Davis Cup Quarter Finals

Four tennis superpowers – Russia, U.S.A, Spain and Argentina have all advanced to this years semi-finals of the Davis Cup.

On paper, Argentina had the easiest task, at home on slow courts against Sweden, who (Bjorn Borg aside) are not renowned for having the best clay court players. However they came up against an inspired force in Swedish number one Robin Soderling, who was determined not to let the Argentines have it all their own way.

After David Nalbandian defeated Jonas Bjorkman in the opening rubber, Soderling stormed back, beating Acasuso 6-0 6-4 6-1. The home nation clinched the doubles, but the deciding rubber was the third singles, as Nalbandian was stretched to his absolute limit in defeating Soderling 9-7 late into the fifth set.

Spain had the simplest passage through, as Nadal and Ferrer both notched up singles wins over Kiefer and Kohlschreiber respectively.The only worry for them came in the doubles, as Germans Kohlschreiber and Philipp Petzschner put up a terrific fight, only to succumb 12-10 in the fifth set to Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez (pictured right).

The U.S.A overcame a weakened France side 3-2, and in truth it was down to blistering form of world no.6 Andy Roddick who beat Michael Llodra, before crushing Paul-Henri Mathieu. James Blake also overcame Mathieu, this time in five sets to send the US 2-0 up, before France pulled one back in the doubles, as the much vaunted Bryan brothers were beaten by Llodra and Arnaud Clement. But Roddick was on hand to clean up the mess and seal the tie, before Blake put the icing on the cake, defeating Gasquet over three tight sets.

The most dramatic of the ties was to be found in Moscow though, as Russia had to pull out all the stops to defeat Czech Republic 3-2. The mercurial Marat Safin, who has a 1-5 win/loss record this season, found his true colours in the opening match as he battled his way past world no.10 Tomas Berdych in five sets.

Radek Stepanek tied the match by defeating Igor Andreev in straight sets, only for Russia to take the lead again by winning the doubles. With the home nation 2-1 up, the crucial match was Nikolay Davydenko vs. Berdych in the third singles match, and the 26 year-old Russian was gifted the match, as Berdych was forced to retire early in the fifth set with an ankle injury.

Russia now face a tough away tie to Argentina, who have only lost four of the last 60 matches on home soil. Spain host the USA, who will be hoping to bounce back, following their loss to the Spanish team in the 2004 Davis Cup final.

Click here for more information on the Davis Cup draw and all of the teams.

Nadal grinds down Blake

Rafael Nadal will meet Tomas Berdych in the first of the semi-finals.

Nadal defeated James Blake for the second time in a week (3-6 6-3 6-1) to make it through to his second straight Masters Series semi. The American looked to have Rafa’s number in the first set, playing some scintilating tennis.

But, almost with a sense of inevitability about it, he could not keep to that level, and the Spaniard gradually wore him down. By the final few games of the third set, Blake looked as though he had fought, and lost, a war on the court; he simply had nothing left to fight Nadal with.

Tomas Berdych had a much simpler path through, as he defeated Russian Igor Andreev 6-4 6-4. Berdych, who is yet to drop a set in Miami this week, has made himself the first Czech player since 1993 to make it to the semi-finals. He only needed two break points, one in each set, to make the match a formality, and make light of a potentially dangerous opponent in Andreev.

However big match composure is something that many critics have felt Berdych is lacking in, and that could be his downfall against a player as tough as Nadal.

He has a respectable 3-3 lifetime record with the Spaniard however, and will go into this match believing he has every chance of making the final, even if nobody else does!