After a nerve-shredding first four rubbers, Lukas Rosol cast the drama aside to ensure that there would be no comeback for Germany after he sealed the tie for the Czech Republic with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 win against Alexander Zverev.
The Czechs had been expected to seal the win when Tomas Berdych took on Philipp Kohlschreiber in the early match on Sunday, but a hamstring injury curtailed Berdych’s efforts and he was forced to retire having lost the first two sets.
That meant that Rosol would have to beat Zverev to take the Czech Republic into the quarter-finals, and in the process preserve Czech Republic’s World Group status. Rosol made a mockery of close head-to-head going into the match. He had won both of the previous meetings in straight sets, though three of the four sets had been decided by tie-breaks.
No tie-breaks were required today however, as Rosol swept aside the young German. Rosol survived some pressure from Zverev before rattling off the final four game of the first set for the early lead. The second proved the closest, decided by just the single break of serve, once again for Rosol. Zverev had been unable to create a single break chance in the second set.
Down two sets, Zverev’s game continued to falter, as Rosol got more and more looks at the his serve. Zverev’s first serve winning percentage dropped dangerously low, and the reward was three breaks for Rosol. Zverev had earned a break point since the first set, and was again unable to create one in the third, as Rosol took home the win for the Czech Republic in one hour and thirty-eight minutes.
Czech Republic join Argentina, Italy, France, and the United States as countries having already secured their quarter-final places, and in the process, their World Group position for 2017. Poland, Germany, Canada, and Switzerland must fight for their survival. There are still three live rubbers in the ties involving Great Britain-Japan, Belgium-Croatia and Serbia-Kazakhstan.
