BOLOGNA, Italy — In an exhilarating showdown, Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez triumphed over Tomas Machac and Jakub Mensik in nail-biting tiebreakers, propelling Spain—despite the absence of their star player Carlos Alcaraz—into the semifinals of the Davis Cup on Thursday.
Alcaraz, a six-time Grand Slam champion, had to withdraw earlier this week due to a hamstring injury.
With both teams securing a singles match each, Granollers and Martínez sealed the deal in a thrilling doubles encounter, winning 7-6 (8), 7-6 (8) at the SuperTennis Arena.
Spain is set to face either the second-seeded Germany or Argentina, who are clashing in the last quarterfinal on Thursday.
The young sensation Mensik fired off 20 aces to defeat veteran Pablo Carreño Busta 7-5, 6-4, while Jaume Munar celebrated his first Davis Cup singles victory for Spain by overcoming the No. 17 Jiri Lehecka with a score of 6-3, 6-4.
Spain reached the semifinals for the first time since clinching their sixth title in 2019, whereas the fourth-seeded Czechs had not made it since 2014.
Top-seed Italy, aiming for a third consecutive title and their fourth overall, will take on Belgium in the other semifinal. The Italian squad will compete without world No. 2 Jannik Sinner, who is taking a break.
The Davis Cup Finals hosted in Bologna marks the sixth edition of this revamped format, designed to crown a champion at a neutral venue.
Canada has been eliminated from the tournament after a defeat in the initial round of qualifiers.
