Safin is the hero again for Russia
Russia's Marat Safin returns a shot to France's Paul-Henri Mathieu during their quarterfinal Davis Cup tennis match in Moscow on Sunday. Reuters |
Safin's 7-6 (7/3), 6-3, 6-2 victory marked the third straight year that Russia ended French hopes at the quarterfinal stage.
Russia advanced to another home semifinal in September against Germany, who wrapped up their place with a day to spare on Saturday and went on to beat Belgium 3-2 in Ostend.
The second semifinal will see the United States host Sweden, after they also both won their home ties on Saturday against Spain and Argentina respectively.
Safin's triumph marked his fifth victory in a deciding rubber for the Russians, including last year when he helped them win their second Davis Cup title in Moscow.
Despite his recent poor form the big-hitter, who lost two of his three previous head-to-head meetings with Mathieu, produced 15 aces to prevail in two hours 28 minutes.
"I didn't expect our skipper would put me on court this weekend and of course I never expected it would be so easy as I could not find my form in the last two months," said Safin.
Sebastien Grosjean had handed France a lifeline earlier, beating Igor Andreev to level proceedings at 2-2.
On Friday Mathieu gave France the advantage after he battled back from a set down to beat Nikolay Davydenko 2-6, 6-2, 6-1, 7-5 in the opening rubber.
Mikhail Youzhny then beat Richard Gasquet of France in a marathon five-setter 6-2, 6-3, 6-7 (8/10), 5-7, 8-6 to level proceedings at 1-1.
Davydenko and Igor Andreev put Russia 2-1 up on Satuday with a surprise doubles victory over the French duo Michael Llodra and Grosjean 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3.
Germany, meanwhile, took an unassailable 3-0 lead over Belgium on Saturday when doubles duo Alexander Waske and Michael Kohlmann beat brothers Olivier and Christophe Rochus 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.
The win added to the singles victories Friday of Tommy Haas over Kristof Vliegen 6-7 (4/7), 7-5, 6-4, 6-2 and Philipp Kohlschreiber over Olivier Rochus 6-3, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4).
Belgium won Sunday's two dead rubbers with Christophe Rochus beating Michael Kohlmann 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 and Dick Norman ousting Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-2, 6-3.
It is the first time since 1995 that Germany have reached the Davis Cup semifinals.
"The journey is not over yet," said German captain Patrik Kuhnen.
"We made a strong statement here in Belgium and want more. We are in the wonderful position of being the hunter."
Russia lead Germany 5-3 in previous meetings.
In Gothenburg, Sweden made up for their humiliating whitewash a year ago against last year's finalists Argentina by winning through 4-1 to reach the last four for the first time since 2001.
Juan-Martin Del Potro prevented a Swedish whitewash by defeating Robert Lindstedt 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-3 in Sunday's final rubber after Jonas Bjorkman had earlier beaten Sebastian Prieto 6-1, 6-2.
In North Carolina the United States finished off a 4-1 victory over Spain.
As expected, doubles duo Bob and Mike Bryan and Mike Bryan defeated Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 7-5, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) on the indoor hardcourts to give the Americans an unbeatable 3-0 lead on Saturday.
Their 11th Davis Cup match win from a total 12 sent the 31-time champion Americans into the final four. James Blake and Andy Roddick had given the US a 2-0 lead on Friday, Blake with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 win over Tommy Robredo and Roddick with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-1, 6-4 victory over Verdasco.
AFP
(China Daily 04/10/2007 page24)
