Germany joined Spain in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup, after their 2-1 victory over Argentina, at the end of a double full of suspense which concluded at 1 a.m.
Italy-Belgium and Spain-Germany. These will be the semi-finals of the 2025 Davis Cup in Bologna. Germany completed the square by winning 2-1 after a tough battle against Argentina, which ended at 1:00 a.m., after a crazy double. The match between Spain and the Czech Republic having lasted, the first singles only started at 5:50 p.m., instead of 4:00 p.m. Tomas Etcheverry, 60th in the world, challenged Jan-Lennard Struff, 84th (1-1 in the confrontations, all on clay).
And Argentina won the first point, thanks to Etcheverry’s victory in two tie-breaks and 2h03 of play: 7-3 then 9-7. Author of 23 aces, the Argentinian only lost his serve once, in the very first game. He then saved three balls from 4-1, then recovered to 4-4 on a shutout, before winning the decisive game without trembling. In the second set, Etcheverry saved three balls from 2-0 down, then the games went to the tie-break. The Argentinian then missed a match point at 6-5, then saved a set point at 6-7, before winning 9-7. It made it 1-0 for Argentina.
Zverev’s son rang
Alexander Zverev (world No. 3), the only player in the world Top 10 present this week in Bologna, therefore absolutely had to beat Francisco Cerundolo (21st), who had already dominated him three times out of four, to maintain his team. And he succeeded, winning 6-4, 7-6 in 1h35. Zverev served 7 aces and did not have a single break point to defend during this meeting. He took the Argentinian’s service at 2-2 in the first set then concluded on his first opportunity. In the second, both players easily won their face-off, and the finalist of the last Australian Open won the tie-break 7-3 without worry, starting with a 4-0. So it was 1-1.
Germany saves three match points
At 10:30 p.m., the pairs Kevin Krawietz/Tim Puetz and Andres Molteni/Horacio Zeballos entered the court for the decisive doubles. And it was the Germans, world number 11, who won with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 in 2h30 against the Argentinians. (Zeballos is 5th, Molteni 25th) by saving three match points! Argentina pocketed the first set thanks to a break at 1-1. Then the Germans started the second leading 3-0, before being equalized at 4-4, and finally breaking again at 5-4, at the best moment. It was therefore necessary to play a third set, and the German pair had to save three break points, before pushing the Argentine pair to play a decisive game.
A crazy tie-break, where Germany led 6-3 and missed three match points, then saved three at 6-7, 7-8 and 9-10, before winning 12-10! New formula requires, the stands were not full to attend this major Davis Cup match… The Germans will now have the whole day of Friday to recover, before their half against Spain from Saturday noon. Argentina, which dreamed of a first coronation since 2016, will still have to wait.
