The Netherlands loses to Croatia in the Davis Cup, but has already qualified for the quarter-finals in Málaga | Tennis

Middelkoop and Koolhof won the first set in the doubles 6-3, but saw Pavic and Ajdukovic come back with a 6-4 win in the second set. The Croats won the final match tiebreak 10-8.

The Netherlands was already assured of a place in the quarter-finals on Friday, with the final tournament starting at the end of November in Málaga. Led by team captain Paul Haarhuis, the Dutch team first defeated Finland, after which the team pulled off a real stunt against the United States.

Van de Zandschulp was then too strong for Tommy Paul, while Franse Spoor defeated Frances Tiafoe, number 11 in the world. After Croatia’s defeat against Finland, the Netherlands was assured of a place among the top two in the group.

Despite the 2-1 defeat against host country Croatia in the third match of the Davis Cup Finals, team captain Paul Haarhuis looks back on the group stage with satisfaction. “I am happy with this week, a high level of tennis and intense teamwork. The result was group winner for the second year in a row. That is very clever.”

The team captain is also full of confidence for the remainder of the country tournament. The Netherlands was already assured of a place in the quarter-finals on Friday after earlier victories over Finland and the United States. “We have a good Davis Cup team and can beat any team in Málaga. We have to prepare well. But the boys all have a good end to the season in the next two months. And then we can beat any team, that’s what we believe in and that’s what we’re going to work for.”

Although qualification was already certain, Haarhuis had urged his players to give it their all again against Croatia. “As group winners, we owed this to our position. We want to confirm our position, but we also want to finish with victories in the upcoming matches,” the captain said beforehand. “This way you leave here with the right feeling.”

That did not work, but despite the defeat, the Netherlands will play as group winners in the quarter-finals against Italy or Serbia. The draw for that match will take place on Tuesday at 12 noon. Defending champion Canada, the Czech Republic and Great Britain are the other group winners. Finland and Australia are the other runners-up. The Final 8 of the Davis Cup will be played in Málaga from November 21 to 26.

The Netherlands was already assured of a place in the quarter-finals on Friday, with the final tournament starting at the end of November in Málaga. Led by team captain Paul Haarhuis, the Dutch team first defeated Finland, after which the team pulled off a real stunt against the United States. Van de Zandschulp was then too strong for Tommy Paul, while Tallon Greek Spoor defeated Frances Tiafoe, number 11 in the world. After Croatia’s defeat against Finland, the Netherlands was assured of a place among the top two in the group.

The Netherlands started the group on Tuesday with a 2-1 victory over Finland, after which the Dutch team also defeated the United States (2-1). The American tennis players won their first match against Croatia.

Finland caused a surprise on Saturday by beating the United States 3-0 to grab the second ticket for the final round in Spain.

Arantxa Rus also did not get through the opening round at the masters tournament in Guadalajara, Mexico. Belarusian Alyaksandra Sasnovich, number 102 in the world, was too strong 6-1, 7-6 (5). The match was over after an hour and a half.

The Dutch number 47 in the world only managed to keep her first service game in the first set. In the second set she showed some improvement and at 5-4 she was close to winning the set, but Sasnovich immediately broke back and equalized. The Belarusian used her first match point in the tiebreak. The first round was also the final destination for Russian at the US Open at the end of last month.

Demi Schuurs lost in the first round with clear figures against the Italian Martina Trevisan: 6-2, 6-0. For the 30-year-old doubles specialist Schuurs, it was the first time that she was in the main roster of a WTA tournament in singles. The Limburg native won two matches in the qualifications.