Spain and Croatia make semifinals

• Source: Global Times
• [22:18 July 13 2009]
• Comments

Juan Carlos Ferrero jubilates after winning Spain’s fifth match against Germany’s Andreas Beck. Photo: AFP

Juan Carlos Ferrero was master of the Marbella bullring today as he steered defending champions Spain into the Davis Cup semifinals while Croatia knocked out 32-time winners USA in another quarterfinal.

Former world No. 1 Ferrero, playing his first Davis Cup tie since 2005, replaced out-of-form Tommy Robredo for the decisive last rubber of the quarterfinal against Germany and he responded in style.

The 29-year-old beat Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in the fifth match to give Spain, playing without injured world No. 2 Rafael Nadal, a 3-2 win in the tie which was played on a specially-built clay court at Marbella’s Puerto Banus bullring.

“I was lucky to be able to play this match. These are always difficult matches. I was a bit more nervous than usual but I was able to play solidly and without making mistakes which I think was key,” said Ferrero.

Earlier today, Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated world No. 9 Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 to level the match at 2-2 in one of the biggest wins of the German’s career.

Spain will play their semifinal at home where they will tackle Israel who made sure of their first appearance in the last four by seeing off Russia in Tel Aviv.

In September’s second semifinal, Croatia, the 2005 champions, will welcome the Czech Republic, whose lone Davis Cup title came back in 1980.

Croatia saw off the USA in Porec, taking a 3-1 lead in their quarterfinal when Marin Cilic defeated James Blake 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6-2.

“It was one of the best matches in my career. It is a great honor to play for your country,” said world No. 15 Cilic.

“Blake was an excellent opponent, but I managed to play at a high level. I was attacking all the time.”

Blake, leading the team in the absence of injured Wimbledon runner-up Andy Roddick, said, “Congratulations to Cilic. Today I simply couldn’t match his game.”

In Ostrava, the Czech Republic eliminated last year’s finalists Argentina with Radek Stepanek defeating Juan Monaco 7-6 (7/5), 6-3, 6-2 in the decisive rubber.

It was a disappointment for the Argentines who earlier saw the balance tip briefly in their favor when world No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

The Czechs will be playing in their first semifinal sicne 1996. 

Juan Carlos Ferrero (C) celebrates with teammates. Photo: AFP
 
(Agencies)