Poland is the first nation through to the ATP Cup semi-finals, easily accounting for Argentina on Qudos Bank Arena.
Poland’s World No. 9 Hubert Hurkacz put on a masterclass to defeat Argentinian Diego Schwartzman 6-1, 6-4 to seal the tie for Poland.
Hurkacz got off to a flying start, obliterating Schwartzman with his powerful all-around game to ease through the first set. The Argentinian was able to get his own game going in the second set but Hurkacz was able to get a crucial break of serve in the 9th game of the set before serving out the match.
Hurkacz was delighted to secure Poland’s place in the semi-finals.
"So happy for our team, for Team Poland. We're in the semis, so super proud of that achievement," Hurkacz said.
"We're a great team. We have great team spirit. We support each other. I think the atmosphere that we bring helps us play better."
In the ties first match, Kamil Majchrzak got Poland off to the perfect start with a 6-3, 7-6(3) win over World No. 44 Federico Delbonis.
Majchrzak continued to defy his ranking of 117 to remain undefeated at this year’s ATP Cup. The win was also Maichrzak’s first-ever win over a Top 50 player.
“I’m trying not to look at the rankings. I was trying to look at Federico and make my plan and make my game to (find) the best possible way to beat him,” Majchrzak said.
“I managed to do it. I was watching his matches, so I was ready. My ranking maybe is out of the Top 100, but I feel like I belong in the Top 100 and more, so I’m going for it now.”
In the doubles, Szymon Walkow and Jan Zielenski completed the clean sweep for Poland with a 7-6(4), 7-6(5) win over Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez.
Poland will be back on the court on Friday to try and book their place in their first ATP Cup Final.
In the day’s other tie, Chile ended their ATP Cup campaign on a high with a 2-1 win over Norway on Ken Roswell Arena.
Chilean pair Alejandro Tabilo and Marcelo Tomás Barrios Vera were able to claim the deciding rubber 6-0, 6-4 over the inexperienced Norwegian pairing of Andreja Petrovic and Leyton Riviera
World No. 139 Alejandro Tabilo was able to get claim his first win of the ATP Cup with a 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-1 win over Norwegian battler Viktor Durasovic to give Chile the lead.
Post-match Tabilo revealed he was experiencing nerves while trying to notch his first singles win of the season.
“Nerves got to me,” Tabilo said post-match.
“Things started off pretty comfortably and I was playing loose, but I was looking for my first win of the year and I put pressure on myself and it showed.
“Viktor started to play very well but I was able to talk to my team, which helped a lot, and I was able to refocus”.
Casper Ruud managed to level up the tie at 1-1 with a hard-fought 6-4, 6-4 win over Cristian Garin.
After struggling in his previous match, Ruud was thrilled to come away with the victory.
“It was a tough match and sometimes the score lies and it’s much tougher than it seems,” Ruud said.
“There were some close games at the beginning of the second set that probably decided the set.
“When you play long games and lose you feel like you have a mountain to climb. When you win them, you feel like you are on the downhill again”.
Ruud now turns his attention to the Australian Open where he will hope to make a first-ever grand slam quarter-final.
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