Aliassime enables Canada seal Davis Cup quarters spot

A day after taking down world number one Carlos Alcaraz of Spain, Felix Auger-Aliassime booked Canada's place in the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Saturday with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic in the group stage tie in Valencia.

Laslo Djere gave Serbia the lead by beating Gabriel Diallo in the opening singles rubber before world number 13 Auger-Aliassime's clinical display levelled the tie and earned Canada the crucial point to seal their spot in the knockout stages.

With group stage matches being played in four European cities, Serbia went on to win the group B tie 2-1 when Vasek Pospisil retired with a knee injury just three games into the match with partner Alexis Galarneau, handing victory to the pair of Kecmanovic and Filip Krajinovic.

"It feels great. I'm really happy. Super relieved," Auger-Aliassime told reporters. "To come out and play this way, get the win, it's very good for me personally. I'm just really happy for the team.

"I feel this whole event my level has been really good. I'm really happy where my game is at. It's very nice to see a smile on everybody's face, make the team happy and proud. That's what I came here to do."

Serbia's victory kept them in the hunt for a spot in the knockout stages of this year's competition, which will be held in Malaga from Nov. 22-27, with Spain also in the running to book the second spot from the group stage in Valencia.

With two teams from each of the four groups going through, victory for Spain against South Korea on Sunday would see the host nation qualify in top spot ahead of Canada.

In group D, Botic van de Zandschulp beat world number 13 Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-6(3) for his third singles victory in as many ties to help Netherlands secure the top spot with a 2-1 victory over the United States.

Both teams advanced to the last eight stage.

Australia and Germany have also booked their tickets to Malaga from group C and the undefeated teams will clash on the final day of the Davis Cup Finals group stage on Sunday with the top spot at stake.

Last year's runners-up Croatia blanked Argentina 3-0 to keep alive their quarter-finals hope with Italy already progressing from group A in Bologna.

Croatia are in second spot behind the hosts and their hopes of progressing will depend on the outcome of Sunday's clash between group leaders Italy and Sweden.

Murray loses doubles as Britain bow out

Britain were knocked out of the Davis Cup Finals as Andy Murray and partner Joe Salisbury lost a deciding doubles to Dutch pair Wesley Koolhof and Matwe Middelkoop in Glasgow on Friday.

Just as against the United States in their opening tie on Wednesday, Murray and doubles world number one Salisbury took to the court with the tie locked at 1-1.

They saved a match-point in a nerve-jangling second set but eventually succumbed 7-6(0), 6-7(6), 6-3.

"It just sucks, because these matches have come down to a few points and they've not gone our way," Murray said. "I have been fortunate to play a lot of these matches over the years, and, come through them.

"That hasn't happened this time around, and I feel sad about that, because... I think we had the possibility to have a really good run here."

While the Dutch celebrated wildly at sealing their place in the quarter-finals for the first time since 2005, Britain were left with their hopes in tatters.

The Dutch pair broke serve to lead 5-3 in the decider and closed it out in nerveless fashion on Koolhof's serve.

Earlier, Dan Evans had given Britain the lead with a comfortable victory over Tallon Griekspoor, but Cameron Norrie was overpowered by Botic van de Zandschulp.

Murray and Salisbury fell just short again, as they did on Wednesday when they lost in three sets to Jack Sock and Rajeev Ram.

The Netherlands will play the United States on Saturday to decide who wins group D, with Britain's match against Kazakhstan now just about salvaging pride.

Two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the knockout stages to be played in Malaga from November 22 to 27.

Matteo Berrettini and Jannik Sinner, both ranked in the men's top 15 singles players in the world, powered Italy past Argentina in group A in Bologna.

Berrettini defeated Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-3 to give Italy the lead before Sinner sealed the tie with a 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 win against Francisco Cerundolo.

The second victory in the week sealed Italy's spot in the last eight of the men's competition with Sweden and Croatia vying for the other spot, having picked up one win each.

Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz once again became the toast of Germany, earning the hosts a crunch 4-6 6-2 7-6(5) win against the Belgian pair of Sander Gille and Joran Vliegen in Hamburg.

Krawietz and Puetz had also pulled off a tense victory in their deciding doubles rubber against France and on Friday sealed Germany's spot in the last eight from group C alongside Australia.