Italy and Russia ensured a place in the semifinals of the ATP Cup with identical 2-1 wins over France and Japan respectively on Wednesday.
In Group C, Fabio Fognini bounced back to battle past Benoit Paire 6-1, 7-6(2) and give Italy a 1-0 lead. Matteo Berrettiniclinched the tie with a comfortable 6-4, 6-2 victory over Gael Monfils.
In the Russia-Japan match, World No. 8 Andrey Rublev crushed Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1, 6-3 before fourth-ranked Daniil Medvedev cruised past Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4.
Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas opened their seasons with fighting wins.
The results:
Group A: Germany bt Canada 2-1 [Jan-Lennard Struff bt Milos Raonic 7-6(4), 7-6(2); Alexander Zverev bt Denis Shapovalov 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-6(4).
Struff & Kevin Krawietz lost to Peter Polansky & Steven Diez 6-7(4), 7-6(6), 3-10].
Group B: Australia bt Greece 2-1 [John Millman bt Michail Pervolarakis 6-2, 6-3; Alex de Minaur lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 5-7; John Peers & Luke Saville bt Pervolarakis & Tsitsipas 6-3, 4-6, 10-5].
Group C: Italy bt France 2-1 [Fabio Fognini bt Benoit Paire 6-1, 7-6(2); Matteo Berrettini bt Gael Monfils 6-4, 6-2; Simone Bolelli & Andrea Vavassori lost to Nicolas Mahut & Edouard Roger-Vasselin 3-6, 4-6].
Group D: Russia bt Japan 2-1 [Andrey Rublev bt Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1, 6-3; Daniil Medvedev bt Kei Nishikori 6-2, 6-4.
Evgeny Donskoy & Askan Karatsev lost to Nishioka & Ben McLachlan 6-4, 3-6, 10-12] .
