Zverev gives Germany 1-0 lead over Croatia in Davis Cup qualifying. South Korea reaches Final 8

Ben Shelton missed the chance put the United States into the the Davis Cup Final 8 on Saturday as he fell to a second straight singles loss against the Czech Republic.The U.S. Open finalist lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 to Jakub Mensik in Prague to level the best-of-five series at 2-2, a day after he was beaten by Jiri Lehecka.Lehecka faced Learner Tien later Saturday in the deciding singles.American pair Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek made it 2-1 after winning their doubles match over Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Riki 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8).Austria made the Final 8 after Jurji Rodionov beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6, 6-3 to build an insurmountable 3-1 advantage. Austria also won the doubles match on the outdoor clay in Vienna, a day after it split the opening single matches with Belgium.Toby Samuel and Wimbledon semifinalist Arthur Fery won their singles matches to put Britain 2-0 up at home to Ecuador.Zverev wins for GermanyAlexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 lead over Croatia by beating Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (3), before Dino Prizmic leveled the series with a 6-4, 6-3 win against Daniel Altmaier.It was Zverev’s first match since winning the U.S.

Open final last weekend against American Ben Shelton. That came after the 29-year-old Zverev won his first Grand Slam title at the French Open in June.The second-ranked Zverev, who had 15 aces, dominated on the indoor hardcourt in Halle, Germany, with Dodig having no break-point chances.Doubles and reverse singles are scheduled for Sunday in the best-of-five match series. The winning team advances to the Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, in November.South Korea makes Davis Cup history for AsiaSouth Korea earlier became the first Asian nation to reach the Final 8 after clinching its match against India 3-1.The South Koreans came from a set down in both singles matches on Friday to lead 2-0.It lost the opening doubles Saturday but Soonwoo Kwan beat Sumit Nagal 6-1, 6-2 in the first reverse singles.The Final 8 format was introduced in 2022.___See AP’s full tennis coverage here

Alexander Zverev gave Germany a 1-0 lead over Croatia in the last qualifying round for the Davis Cup Final 8 by beating Matej Dodig 6-4, 7-6 (3) on Saturday.It was Zverev’s first match since winning the U.S. The winning team advances to the Final 8 in Bologna, Italy, in November.Shelton looking to bounce backAmerican pair Christian Harrison and Austin Krajicek made it 2-1 against the Czech Republic after winning their doubles match over Adam Pavlasek and Patrik Riki 5-7, 6-3, 7-6 (8).Shelton will have a chance to seal the series in Prague when he plays Jakub Mensik a day after he lost to Jiri Lehecka and allowed the Czechs to level the score at 1-1.Austria made the Final 8 after Jurji Rodionov beat Belgium’s Zizou Bergs 7-6, 6-3 to build an insurmountable 3-1 advantage.