ATP
Malaga
Carlos Alcaraz and Tomas Machac were locked at a set a piece Wednesday when the 23-year-old from the Czech Republic was forced to retire due to cramps in the Davis Cup Finals Group Stage clash at the Jose Maria Martin Carpena Sports Palace in Malaga.
Roberto Bautista Agut won the opening singles match against Jiri Lehecka 7-6(1), 6-4, ensuring that Spain would later secure a 2-0 win against the Czech Republic in Group B.
Alcaraz dropped the opening set 6-7(3), but fought back to level the match with a convincing 6-1 second set. Machac retired in the opening game of the deciding set after one hour, 38 minutes of play in Valencia.
When Machac could not continue, he hunched over his knees and struggled to walk towards the net. Alcaraz warmly embraced his opponent.
“I think after a really difficult and tough first set, I knew that I had to stay tough, stay positive and play long rallies,” Alcaraz said. “I think he played more matches in the American swing. He played tough matches in New York. Then coming here, different conditions, different everything. It’s difficult to get used to.”
Alcaraz, 21, is competing in Davis Cup for the first time since September 2022.
He will later partner Marcel Granollers to go against Jakub Mensik and Adam Pavlasek.
Spain’s next tie will be against France on Friday. Czechia meets Australia on Thursday.
In Group A action, Italy’s Matteo Berrettini and Matteo Arnaldi helped their home country defeat Brazil 2-0. Berrettini ousted 18-year-old Joao Fonseca 6-1, 7-6(5), during which the Italian rallied from 0/4 in the second-set tie-break to avoid a decider.
Arnaldi, 23, escaped a thrilling three-hour, 39-minute battle against Thiago Monteiro 7-5, 6-7(4), 7-6(5).
Germany defeat Chile
Germany defeated Chile on Thursday to claim their second win in two group stage matches in Zhuhai, China. The Germans won 3-0 after Maximilian Marterer prevailed 6-1, 6-3 against Tomas Barrios Vera and Yannick Hanfmann defeated Alejandro Tabilo 7-5, 6-4. Tim Pütz and Kevin Krawietz completed the win with a 6-1, 6-3 in the doubles against Barrios Vera and Matias Soto.
