With Grand Slam record champion Novak Djokovic in the ranks, Serbia was the last nation to book the semi-final ticket at the Davis Cup in Malaga.
The Balkan team beat Great Britain 2-0 on Thursday evening and will now face Italy, who won 2-1 against the Netherlands. Djokovic will meet Jannik Sinner again there: just last Sunday, the world number one defeated the South Tyrolean in the final of the ATP Finals in Turin.
In Serbia’s victory, Miomir Kecmanovic beat his opponent Jack Draper 7:6 (7:2), 7:6 (8:6) in the first singles and thus provided Djokovic with the assist to win the match. The 36-year-old didn’t miss the chance: With 6:4, 6:4, the “Djoker” defeated Cameron Norrie and brought his team one step closer to their second Davis Cup title after 2010.
Sinner had previously led Italy to the semi-finals with two strong performances against the Netherlands. In the decisive doubles, the 22-year-old, who was unstoppable on his own serve, defeated the Tallon Griekspoor/Wesley Koolhof duo alongside Lorenzo Sonego in two hard-fought sets 6:3, 6:4. Sinner had previously won the singles 7:6 (7:3), 6:1 against Griekspoor. Matteo Arnaldi lost to Botic van de Zandschulp 7:6 (8:6), 3:6, 6:7 (7:9).
The second semi-final will be played by Finland, who eliminated defending champions Canada, and Australia after a victory over the Czech Republic. The final takes place on Sunday (4 p.m./DAZN and ServusTV On).
The German team missed qualifying for the final round of the best eight teams this year.