Australia’s comeback attempt from a 2-0 deficit fell short on Sunday when Belgium’s Raphael Collignon beat Aleksandar Vukic in the decisive fifth match in Sydney to secure a 3-2 win in their qualifying tie and a place in November’s Davis Cup Final 8.
U.S. Open quarter-finalist Alex de Minaur, who had hoped for a “comeback story” despite Saturday’s losses, beat Zizou Bergs in straight sets to level the second-round tie after Australia’s Jordan Thompson and Rinky Hijikata had won the doubles match.
But Collignon, who beat world number eight De Minaur on Saturday, shook off a first-set stumble against Vukic to win 6-7(5) 6-2 6-3.
Belgium became the seventh team to reach the Final 8 after Argentina, Austria, France, Germany, Czech Republic and defending champions Italy, who qualified as hosts.
Denmark, who took a 2-0 lead over Spain in Marbella on Saturday, are one win away from becoming the eighth team to qualify.
The Final 8 will take place in Bologna from November 18 to 23.
