Champs Russia out Davis Cup

NEW YORK: Argentina eliminated defending champions Russia from the quarter-finals of Davis Cup tennis tournament yesterday while Australia and Spain also advanced to the semi-finals after taking unbeatable 3-0 leads. Also, Switzerland took a 2-1 lead in their quarter-final tie against France.

In yesterday’s doubles, David Nalbandian and Lucas Arnold of Argentina defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; Spaniards Albert Costa and Alex Corretja defeated Ivan Ljubicic and Lovro Zovko 6-2, 6-3, 6-4; and Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge of Australia beat Jonas Bjorkman and Thomas Enqvist 6-4, 6-2, 6-2. In the other tie, Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Marc Rosset downed Nicolas Escude and Fabrice Santoro of France 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4). Spain will host Argentina on clay in the semi-finals while Australia take on either Switzerland or France on Sept. 19-21. In Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nalbandian again proved to be the steadying force for Argentina, providing the spark when Arnold struggled.

Teammate Gaudio Gaston sprinted onto the court after match point, uncorking two giant champagne bottles and spraying Nalbandian and Arnold as fans chanted “Argentina! Argentina!” “We played really well today and drew a lot of inspiration from the fans,” Arnold said. In a last-minute change by the Russians, Youzhny replaced world No 7 Marat Safin, who turned his ankle during training on Monday and later withdrew from singles play.

In the semi-finals last year, Russia topped Argentina 3-2 in Moscow. In Malmoe, Sweden, Arthurs and Woodbridge played nearly flawless tennis and were never broken during the two-hour match on Baltiska Hallen’s hardcourt. The Swedes — playing together for the first time in the Davis Cup — had only four break points during the match. Australia have reached the semi-finals for the fourth time in the last five years. The Aussies last won in 1999, but lost in the final in 2000 and ’01.

In Valencia, Spain, Costa and Corretja broke Zovko’s serve twice in the first set as the 22-year-old substitute for injured Goran Ivanisevic looked nervous. Ljubicic was also less than his best, moving awkwardly and making several unforced errors at the net. But while the Croats struggled, Costa and Corretja covered the court fluidly, rarely fell behind and won the key points. Spain last won the Davis Cup in 2000, beating Australia. Croatia, who have never won the competition, knocked out 31-time winners the United States in the first round in Zagreb.

In Toulouse, France, Federer and Rosset helped Switzerland take the advantage going into today’s reverse singles. Switzerland captain Rosset, who selected himself ahead of George Bastl and Ivo Heuberger, proved an able foil to the outstanding Federer and often troubled the French with his impeccable ground strokes. In today’s reverse singles, Federer faces Sebastien Grosjean and France’s Nicolas Escude takes on Bastl. France have not come back to win from 2-1 down in the Davis Cup since 1979.