Paris, July 13: Juan Carlos Ferrero was master of the Marbella bullring when he steered defending champions Spain into the Davis Cup semi-finals while Croatia knocked out 32-time winners USA.
Former world number one Ferrero, playing his first Davis Cup tie since 2005, replaced out-of-form Tommy Robredo for the decisive last rubber of the quarter-final against Germany and he responded in style.
The 29-year-old beat Andreas Beck 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 to give Spain, without injured world number two 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. 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, Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated world number nine Fernando Verdasco 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 to level the match at 2-2.
Spain will play their semi-final 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.
Israel had taken an unassailable 3-0 lead on Saturday and completed a 4-1 win on Sunday.
In September’s second semi-final, 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 quarter-final 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 honour to play for your country,” said world number 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.”
Bob Bryan later defeated Roko Karanusic in the ‘dead’ rubber to make the final score 3-2.
In Ostrava, the Czech Republic eliminated 2008 runners-up Argentina 3-2 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 favour when world number five Juan Martin del Potro beat Tomas Berdych 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.
“It was the biggest effort I have ever made in Davis Cup,” said Stepanek who had gone into the tie with worries over a knee injury.
“I had to really dig deep to step on the court. After the doubles (on Saturday) I was 90 percent sure that I wouldn’t be able to play singles, but I was assured by the doctors that it was not going to damage my knee.”
“I had to lie to myself that it didn’t hurt.”
Argentine captain Tito Vazquez said he always thought the 30-year-old Stepanek would be fit.
—-Agencies