Czech Republic, Croatia in Davis Cup semi

Stepanek, ranked No. 17, is to meet hard-serving No. 31-ranked Ivo Karlovic in the first match of the best-of-five semifinals on a clay indoor court in Porec, Croatia. Berdych, who is ranked 18th in the world, is to play world No. 15 Marin Cilic in Friday's other singles match.

A doubles match pitting Czechs Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajek against Croatians Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko is scheduled Saturday with the semifinals wrapping up with singles matches Sunday in which Cilic is to meet Stepanek and Karlovic plays Berdych.

The Czech Republic is making its first Davis Cup semifinal appearance in 13 years and hasn't been to the tournament's finals since 1980 when it won its only Davis Cup title. Croatia is in the semifinals for the second time, having won the Davis Cup in 2005.

The Czech Republic-Croatia victor moves into the Davis Cup final Dec. 4-6 against either Israel or Spain.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.