Tennis

Argentina has secured a spot in the Davis Cup Final 8 after a hard-fought 3-0 victory over Finland in Manchester. The Argentines, who last reached the quarterfinals in 2018, overcame a challenging Group D that included a loss to defending champion Canada.Tomas Martin Etcheverry opened the tie with a 7-6(5), 6-3 win over Eero Vasa, while Francisco Cerundolo battled past Otto Virtanen 6-7(4), 6-1, 6-0. The doubles pair of Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni sealed the victory with a 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-3 triumph over Patrick Kaukovalta and Harri Heliovaara.Argentina's victory puts pressure on host Britain, who must defeat Canada 3-0 on Sunday to advance.In other Group D action, Brazil kept their hopes alive with a 2-1 win over Belgium. Joao Fonseca and Thiago Monteiro secured three-set victories, but the doubles match went to Belgium. Brazil can still qualify if the Netherlands lose 3-0 to Italy on Sunday.In Group C, the United States earned a seeding in the Final 8 by topping Germany 2-1. Reilly Opelka saved two match points to defeat Henri Squire, while Brandon Nakashima cruised past Maximilian Marterer. The Americans lost their first point in nine matches when Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram fell to Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz in doubles.In Group B, France defeated the Czech Republic 2-1 in a tie between teams already eliminated. The victory was sealed by a doubles win for France.

Tennis fans in Argentina are in for a special treat this December as former world No. 3 Juan Martin del Potro has announced an exhibition match against 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic. The match, dubbed "The Final Challenge," will take place on December 1 at Parque Roca in Buenos Aires.Del Potro, a beloved figure in Argentine tennis, has been sidelined by injuries in recent years but is eager to give his home fans one last unforgettable performance. The 35-year-old Tandil native played his last ATP match in February 2022 in Buenos Aires, marking the unofficial end of a storied career that included the 2009 US Open title and 22 ATP titles.Despite his injury struggles, Del Potro has remained a fan favorite, known for his powerful forehand and fighting spirit. His return to the court, even in an exhibition capacity, is sure to generate immense excitement among Argentine tennis enthusiasts.Djokovic, the current world No. 1, has been a dominant force in tennis for over a decade. The Serbian star has won 24 Grand Slam titles, the most among men in the Open Era. He is also a two-time Olympic champion and has held the world No. 1 ranking for a record 387 weeks.The match between Del Potro and Djokovic is expected to be a thrilling spectacle, pitting two of the greatest players of their generation against each other. Del Potro will be looking to end his career on a high note, while Djokovic will be aiming to extend his dominance on the court.The exhibition match is also a testament to the enduring popularity of tennis in Argentina. The country has produced numerous world-class players over the years, including Guillermo Vilas, Gabriela Sabatini, and David Nalbandian. Del Potro's return to the court is sure to inspire a new generation of Argentine tennis stars.

Facundo Diaz Acosta, the rising Argentine tennis star, has expressed his disappointment at missing out on the Tokyo Olympics despite his impressive performances on the international stage.Diaz Acosta, who won his maiden ATP Challenger title in Buenos Aires earlier this year, was initially hopeful of qualifying for the Games after winning gold at the Pan American Games in Santiago last October. However, the emergence of Mariano Navone and an acute right shoulder injury dashed his hopes."There was a lot of confusion in Argentina," Diaz Acosta told TENNIS.com at Wimbledon. "All the people thought I was in. I got a lot of messages of congratulations. I had to say to everyone, 'No, no, no, I'm not in.'"The 23-year-old had been targeting the Olympics since 2018, when he finished the week at the Youth Olympics in Buenos Aires. He won silver in the singles and gold in doubles alongside Sebastian Baez, who will be competing in Tokyo.Diaz Acosta also claimed gold at the South American Games in Paraguay in 2022, further bolstering his credentials. However, the injury and Navone's strong performances on the clay swing ultimately proved too much to overcome."When I got injured, I knew I had points I was going to lose," Diaz Acosta said. "And Mariano was doing pretty well during the clay swing so I knew he was going to go."Despite the setback, Diaz Acosta remains optimistic about his future prospects. "If not this time, maybe Los Angeles," he said, referring to the 2028 Olympics. "Clay, and Paris, one of my favorite cities. It was like the perfect conditions to play."