Britain who topped Group B in the Davis Cup after their win over France on Sunday now face Serbia, as the draw for the Final 8 knockout stage was announced on Tuesday.
Serbia finished second behind the Czech Republic, but clinched their place in the Final 8 with a win over Spain.
Novak Djokovic beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina just five days after winning the US Open to help Serbia to a 3-0 win over Spain in Valencia.
Whoever comes out on top between Serbia and Britain will then face the winner of the Italy versus the Netherlands match in the semi-final.
Reigning Davis Cup champions Canada will continue their title defence against Finland, who came through as runners-up in Group D after surprise victories over Croatia and the US. Canada topped their group ahead of Italy.
The winner of the Canada versus Finland tie will take on either the Czech Republic or Australia in the semi-final. Australia finished runners-up to Britain.
Finland have never reached this stage before in the top team event in men’s tennis.
On Saturday, British doubles duo Dan Evans and Neal Skupski saved four match points on the way to a thrilling 1-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (8-6) victory over France’s Nicolas Mahut and Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
In front of a raucous Manchester crowd, Evans had earlier beaten Arthur Fils 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the opening singles only for Cameron Norrie to lose to Ugo Humbert 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 7-5.
Britain last won the Davis Cup in 2015. Italy also clinched their place in the last eight as they beat already-eliminated Sweden to grab runners-up spot behind holders Canada in Group A.
The US were eliminated by Finland, who reached the quarter finals for the first time with a 3-0 win.
Otto Virtanen saved two match points in the decisive tie-breaker on Saturday to beat Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7-5), 1-6, 7-6 (9-7) and Emil Ruusuvuori defeated Tommy Paul 7-6 (7-1), 6-4 — sealing the result on his fourth match point — to give debutant Finland a historic win in Split, Croatia, at the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals.
“You can hear it from the (fans). It means a lot for the whole country, for tennis in Finland. It’s a huge thing,” Ruusuvuori had said on Saturday. “We’re going to Malaga!”
The Czech Republic beat Serbia 3-0 to clinch top spot in Group C with Tomas Machac and Adam Pavlasek beating Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic. Both countries were already through with two wins each in Valencia.
Last year’s runners-up Australia also ensured their return to the Final 8 with a 3-0 win over Switzerland in Manchester.
Reuters, AP/PTI
