A battling Nick Kyrgios earned a morale-boosting victory over world number six Stefano Tsitsipas Tuesday, while Russia and Britain booked their spots in the ATP Cup quarter-finals.
Tsitsipas was on a roll after thrashing Alexander Zverev on Monday, but met his match in the temperamental Australian, who was on his best behaviour during the high-quality 7-6 (9/7), 6-7 (3/7), 7-6 (7/5) win.
Australia took the tie, with John Millman winning the other singles against Greece’s Michail Pervolarakis 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7/1).
In contrast, Zverev cut a miserable figure after he meekly succumbed to another defeat, with the world number seven having some serious problems to iron out ahead of the Australian Open this month as he crash to Canada’s Denis Shapovalov 6-2, 6-2.
His poor form contributed to Becker-led Germany losing two of their three ties.
Australia, along with Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, had already qualified for the last eight in the 24-nation tournament as winners of their respective groups and they were joined by Russia, with Britain also sneaking in.
The British were on tenterhooks, with their fate in the hands of Belgium and Bulgaria after they beat Moldova 3-0.
Belgium ended up crushing the dreams of Grigor Dimitrov’s Bulgaria in a deciding doubles clash and in doing so allowed Britain to win the group.
Rafael Nadal’s Spain will also make the last eight if they beat Japan in Perth today, as will the Marin Cilic-led Croatia by beating Argentina in Sydney.
The two best runners-up also go through and will be determined on the last day of round robin play today.