Perth, Jan 3: Novak Djokovic continued to struggle with his wrist injury as Australia stunned Serbia with a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals of the United Cup on Wednesday.
Poland also qualified for the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over China, while France and Greece completed sweeps of Italy and Canada respectively to progress to the quarterfinals.
Djokovic, who has had a problem with his right wrist during the tournament, found a way past Jiri Lehecka in Serbia’s previous Group E match against the Czech Republic.
However, the world No. 1 struggled against Alex de Minaur as the Australian used a superb defence and a dominant serve to win 6-4, 6-4.
Djokovic was clearly in discomfort against world No. 12 De Minaur and was twice treated by the physio during the first set.
It was Djokovic’s first defeat in Australia since he lost his quarterfinal at the Australian Open in 2018.
Ajla Tomljanovic followed up by giving Australia an unassailable 2-0 lead when she won 6-1, 6-1 against Natalija Stevanovic, who had stepped in for Olga Danilovic.
Matthew Ebden and Storm Hunter then completed the rout by combining for a 6-3, 6-3 triumph over Serbian mixed doubles duo Dejana Radanovic and Nikola Cacic.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek beat No. 14 Zheng Qinwen 6-2, 6-3 to give Poland a winning 2-0 lead after Hubert Hurkacz’s 6-3, 6-4 victory over Zhang Zhizhen.
Polish pair Katarzyna Piter and Jan Zielinski sealed the sweep with a 6-3, 5-7, 10-7 win over You Xiaodi and Sun Fajing in the mixed doubles.
The Poland team will travel across Australia for Saturday’s semi-finals in Sydney, where they will play either France or Norway.
Earlier in Sydney, Caroline Garcia and Adrian Mannarino led France past Italy.
Mannarino overcame Lorenzo Sonego in straight sets before Garcia beat Jasmine Paolini 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to give France a 2-0 lead and confirm the top spot in Group D.
French pair Elixane Lechemia and Édouard Roger-Vasselin completed the sweep with a straight-set win in the mixed doubles.
No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas returned after missing Greece’s opener against Chile to defeat Canada’s Steven Diez 6-2, 6-3 and give his team the lead.
Maria Sakkari sealed Greece’s spot in the quarterfinals when she saved four set points in the first set and then came back from 3-1 down in the second to beat Leylah Fernandez 7-6 (2), 6-3. Tsitsipas and Despina Papamichail also beat Stacey Fung and Felix Auger-Aliassime 7-5, 6-4 in the mixed doubles. (AP)
