Novak Djokovic steered Serbia into the Davis Cup semifinals with a straightforward 6-4, 6-4 win over Britain's Cameron Norrie to give his team a winning 2-0 lead on Thursday.
Serbia will face Italy on Saturday after Jannik Sinner inspired his team to a comeback win over the Netherlands, the world number four winning his singles and a decisive doubles.
Britain, missing the injured Andy Murray and Dan Evans, had banked on Jack Draper winning the opening singles against Serbia's Miomir Kecmanovic and their strong doubles partnership of Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski. But world number 55 Kecmanovic produced a brilliant performance to beat Draper 7-6(2), 7-6(6) in a fierce battle.
Novak Djokovic in action during the Davis Cup quarterfinal round in Malaga, Spain, November 23, 2023. /CFP
Norrie then needed to overcome record 24-times Grand Slam champion Djokovic for the first time in his career to keep the tie alive, but still fell short against the 36-year-old Serb who was looking to complete a remarkable year by helping his country win the Davis Cup for the second time.
Earlier, in the Martin Carpena Arena which has seen big crowds for Final Eight, Italy kept alive their hopes of a first Davis Cup title since 1976.
The Dutch moved ahead as Botic van de Zandschulp won a titanic tussle against Matteo Arnaldi 6-7(6) 6-3 7-6(7). But the in-form Sinner, beaten by Djokovic in the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday, beat Tallon Griekspoor 7-6(3), 6-1 to send the tie to a deciding doubles.
Sinner teamed up with Lorenzo Sonego to beat Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof 6-3 6-4 as Italy reached back-to-back semi-finals in the men's team competition.
"It means a lot to me," Sinner said. "But more importantly we're through to the semi-finals. It's the first time I can experience this."
(With input from Reuters)