Home

Davis Cup semifinals

France qualifies for Davis Cup semis

Sat, 07/10/2010 - 23:44 by Pankaj Damin

Clermont-Ferrand, France -- Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra won their doubles match Saturday to put France into the semifinals of the Davis Cup.

France became the first country to earn a semifinal berth in the premier team event in men's tennis.

Benneteau and Llodra defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 6-1, 6-2, 6-7 (6-8), 7-6 (7-5) to give France a 3-0 advantage in the best-of-five series of quarterfinal matches.
Llodra and Gael Monfils had won their singles matches to open the competition on Friday. The French hosted the series in Clermont-Ferrand.

Spain, which was without world No. 1 Rafael Nadal, had not lost to the French in Davis Cup play since 1923. Spain leads the all-time series 5-2.

Spain beats Israel 3-0 at Davis Cup semis

Sun, 09/20/2009 - 02:54 by surajdogra

Murica, Spain -- Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo recorded a four-set victory Saturday, giving Spain a 3-0 win over Israel in the Davis Cup semifinals at Murcia, Spain.

Their 7-6 (8-6), 6-7 (7-9), 6-4, 6-2 win over Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram gave Spain a chance to defend its 2008 title.

Despite being without the injured Rafael Nadal, the world's second-ranked men's tennis player, the Spaniards were favored to advance against the Israelis, who were playing in the Davis Cup semifinals for the first time.

"It was a question of taking our opportunities," Robredo said. "The first two sets were very close, but then we played our best in the third and fourth sets."

Czechs beat Croats 3-0 in Davis Cup semis

Sun, 09/20/2009 - 01:34 by surajdogra

Porec, Croatia -- Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych won their doubles match Saturday, giving the Czech Republic a 3-0 win over Croatia in the Davis Cup semifinals.

Before a spirited crowd at Porec, Croatia, the duo's 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 victory against the tandem of Marin Cilic and Lovro Zovko gave the Czechs an insurmountable lead and a spot in the Davis Cup finals for the first time since 1980, when the former Czechoslovakia, led by Ivan Lendl, topped Italy.

"There is no feeling better in the world," Stepanek said less than 24 hours after his five-set singles victory against 6-foot-10 Croat Ivo Karlovic.

In the finals, the Czechs face Spain, a 3-0 winner over Israel, without the injured Rafael Nadal.

Czech Republic, Croatia in Davis Cup semi

Thu, 09/17/2009 - 22:06 by surajdogra

Porec, Croatia -- The Czech Republic will send Top 20 singles players Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych into the Davis Cup semifinals Friday in Croatia.

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.

Israel completes 4-1 cup win over Russia

Mon, 07/13/2009 - 00:36 by Salinder Kumar

Tel Aviv, Israel. -- Israel, which had already clinched a berth in the Davis Cup semifinals, finished its matches with Russia Sunday, posting a final score of 4-1.

Harel Levy got the final point, beating Igor Kunitsyn 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (7-2) at Tel Aviv, Israel.

The Israelis had already built an unbeatable 3-1 advantage Saturday in the best-of-five matches.

Israel goes to the cup semifinals for the first time, playing either Spain or Germany in September.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.

Croatia knocks U.S. out of Davis Cup

Sun, 07/12/2009 - 23:50 by Salinder Kumar

POREC, Croatia, July 12 (UPI) -- Marin Cilic beat James Blake in four sets Sunday, sending Croatia to the Davis Cup semifinals and eliminating the United States team.

Cilic's 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 win gave Croatia an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five quarterfinal competition. A later match had no bearing on the final result.

The Croatian star had earlier defeated American Mardy Fish. Blake's loss was his second of the weekend, having fallen Saturday to Ivo Kalovic.

Croatia will clash with the Czech Republic team in the semis in September, The Czechs advanced Sunday with a 3-2 win over Argentina.

The Croatian team is in the semifinal round for the first time since it won the cup in 2005.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International.