Russia reached the Davis Cup semi-finals on Sunday after Czech number one Tomas Berdych injured his ankle and was forced to quit midway through the fifth set of his tussle against Nikolay Davydenko.
Russia had led the tie 2-1 going into Sunday's reverse singles and Berdych's misfortune allowed the hosts to seal the winning point and a place in the last four for a fourth successive year. They will now face Argentina in September.
World number nine Berdych fell when he lunged for a forehand baseline shot on a break point against Davydenko's serve in the fourth game of the fifth set. The 22-year-old's face contorted in agony as he slumped to the floor. A physio strapped Berdych's ankle but eventually he limped off, dashing the Czech hopes of an upset victory over Russia, who have not lost at home since 1995, and handing Davydenko a 6-3 2-6 6-7 6-3 1-2 victory.
Berdych left the stadium shortly after the match to head back home for checks on his ankle. "I really felt I had a chance today, especially here in Russia," he said in a recorded message to the media. "I couldn't even walk. If I move my leg, it's not good at all."
Berdych had never beaten Davydenko in six previous meetings but on Sunday, he looked like he could at last snap the losing run.
In front of a loud partisan crowd at a Soviet era sports complex built on the banks of the River Moskva, Berdych pushed Davydenko to his limits during a match in which the momentum swung between the two players. Berdych injured his ankle just as Davydenko's serve looked increasingly vulnerable. In all Davydenko served five double faults compared to Berdych's one, but the Russian was beginning to hit his returns with his trademark pace and accuracy.
Both players had just lost their service games in the fifth and final set when Berdych slipped. "The fifth set was very tough and it was very unclear who would win," Davydenko said. "I was very tired but I broke him back. Maybe he was getting tired too and that's how the accident happened."
Meanwhile, Nicolas Kiefer of Germany, won the final reverse singles against Feliciano Lopez on Sunday to prevent victorious Spain completing a whitewash in their Davis Cup quarter-final. Spain had already clinched a place in the semi-finals after a thrilling five-set victory in Saturday's doubles gave them a 3-0 winning lead.
With top singles players Rafael Nadal and David Ferrer sitting out the final day, Fernando Verdasco took to the indoor hard court in the first match up on Sunday and made it 4-0 with a 2-6 7-6 6-4 victory over Michael Berrer. Kiefer salvaged some pride for the home side by seeing off Lopez 6-4 7-6 in the tie's final match. Spain will face either the US or France in the semi-finals.
On Sunday, David Nalbandian beat Robin Soderling in a marathon five-set match to give Argentina an unassailable 3-1 lead over Sweden in their Davis Cup quarter-final.
The Argentine number one recovered from two sets to one down to win 6-4 1-6 4-6 6-4 9-7 in a match lasting over four hours at the Parque Roca. Argentina will now face Russia in September's semi-final.
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