Novak Djokovic has played two games in a row, but the Serbs still fell to Germany in the Davis Cup group stage on Saturday.
World No.1 Djokovic beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-2, 6-4, tying the odds 1-1.
After a short break he joined with Nikola Cacic, but the pair lost to Tim Puetz and Kevin Krawietz, victorious 7-6, 3-6 and 7-6.
“It’s a great performance to beat the team with the best player in the world,” said German captain Michael Kohlmann. We have always believed in ourselves and it has paid off. ”
Serbia can still reach the quarter-finals, but Germany can finish first in Group F by beating Austria.
In the first confrontation, Dominik Koepfer had the upper hand 7-6 and 6-4 ahead of Filip Krajinovic.
Earlier on Saturday, Kazakhstan came from behind to defeat Sweden while Great Britain and Russia defeated France and Ecuador respectively.
In Group B to which Canada belongs, Sweden was only one victory away from qualifying for the quarter-finals after Elias Ymer, 6-3, 7-6 (4) over Mikhail Kukushkin in the first singles match of the day in Madrid.
However, Mikael Ymer, Elias’ younger brother, lost in three sets to Alexander Bublik. The latter erased a deficit from one set to zero to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-0.
Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov completed the comeback by winning the doubles match, 6-3, 6-3 against a tandem of Andre Goransson and Robert Lindstedt.
PHOTO BERNAT ARMANGUE, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov
Kazakhstan could earn a sixth appearance in the quarter-finals if they defeat Canada on Sunday.
The Canadian delegation is in a precarious situation after losing its three matches against Sweden on Thursday. To hope to finish second in Group B, Canada will need to win all three of its games against Kazakhstan on Sunday.
Canada is participating in the tournament in the absence of its two best players, Montrealer Félix Auger-Aliassime and Ontarian Denis Shapovalov, who have chosen to bypass this competition after long seasons on the ATP circuit.
Dominant Medvedev
In a Group A singles match in Madrid, world second Daniil Medvedev had five service breaks and easily beat Emilio Gomez 6-0, 6-2 to give the Russian Tennis Federation an insurmountable lead of 2 -0 against Ecuador.
PHOTO OSCAR DEL POZO, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Daniil Medvedev
With the victory, the Russians will face Spain on Sunday in a duel that will determine who finishes the group stage in first place.
“I wanted to deliver a clean first to last point game and I’m happy to have given the team the point,” said Medvedev, the US Open champion last September.
Previously, Andrey Rublev gave his country a first victory, but perhaps more difficult than expected, 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 against Roberto Quiroz.
Rublev and Aslan Karatsev completed the sweep by defeating the duo formed by Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.
For their part, Great Britain defeated France 2-1 after winning both singles matches in Innsbruck.
Daniel Evans first defeated Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-4. Cameron Norrie followed by taking the measure of Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-6 (8).
PHOTO LEONHARD FOEGER, REUTERS
The French Arthur Rinderknech and Nicolas Mahut greet their English opponents Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski at the end of the clash.
Rinderknech and Nicolas Mahut saved France the affront of a sweep after winning the doubles match 6-1, 6-4 against Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski.
Great Britain and France both have one point in the Group C standings. On Sunday, the British face the Czech Republic, beaten by France on Friday.
Finally, Australia avoided elimination in Group D with a 2-1 victory over Hungary.
Zsombor Piros gave the Hungarian side the lead with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over John Millman. Alex de Minaur responded by defeating Marton Fucsovics 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (2) in a match that lasted over three hours.
Alex Bolt and John Peers won the deciding doubles duel, 6-3, 6-7 (11), 6-3.