Croatia knock out USA

Tennis: Davis Cup

The Americans, champions a record 32 times, had to win both of Sunday's reverse singles to reach the last four but Cilic made sure that the Croatians wrapped up the tie with a match to spare.

"This is one of the biggest matches of my career and I think I played great from the start to the end," said Cilic, whose team will host the Czech Republic in the semifinals in September.

Radek Stepanek produced an inspired performance for the Czechs as they dumped last year’s finalists Argentina following a 7-6, 6-3, 6-2 win over Juan Monaco.

Argentine world number five Juan Martin del Potro had ensured the contest would go down to the wire by beating Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the first reverse singles to level the tie at 2-2.

Spain through

Juan Carlos Ferrero came to Spain's rescue to beat Andreas Beck of Germany 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 and clinch a 3-2 victory for the champions in their quarterfinal.

Spain were in danger of suffering a first home defeat in 16 ties after Philipp Kohlschreiber repelled a stirring Fernando Verdasco fightback in the first reverse singles 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 on the clay in Marbella to level the tie at 2-2.

Spain, who were without injured world number two Rafael Nadal, will again have home advantage in the semifinals against surprise package Israel, who stunned Russia to qualify for the last four of the Davis Cup for the first time.

Reuters

Quarterfinal results:  At Marbella: Spain bt Germany 3-2 (Juan Carlos Ferrero bt Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 ; Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6. On Saturday: Feliciano Lopez/ Fernando Verdasco bt Nicolas Kiefer/ Mischa Zverev 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. On Friday: Philipp Kohlschreiber bt Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4, 6-4; Fernando Verdasco bt Andreas Beck 6-0, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, 6-1.

At Ostrava: Czech Republic bt Argentina 3-2 (Radek Stepanek bt Juan Monaco 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-2; Juan Martin del Potro bt Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. On Saturday: Tomas Berdych/ Radek Stepanek bt Leonardo Mayer/ Jose Acasuso 6-1, 6-4, 6-3. On Friday: Juan Martin del Potro bt Ivo Minar 6-1, 6-3, 6-3; Tomas Berdych bt Juan Monaco 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2.

At Tel Aviv: Israel bt Russia 4-1 (Harel Levy bt Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2); Dudi Sela lost to Igor Andreev bt 3-4 (retd). On Saturday: Jonathan Erlich/ Andy Ram bt Igor Kunitsyn/ Marat Safin 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (3-7), 4-6, 6-4. On Friday: Dudi Sela bt Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5; Harel Levy bt Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

At Porec: Croatia beat US 3-1 (Marin Cilic bt James Blake 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2; On Saturday: Lovro Zovko/ Roko Karanusic lt to Bob Bryan/ Mike Bryan 6-3, 6-1, 6-3. On Friday: Ivo Karlovic bt James Blake 6-7 (5-7), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-3), 7-5; Maran Cilic bt Mardy Fish 4-6, 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 6-1, 8-6).