Nalbandian sees Argentina through to Davis Cup semis
By DPA, IANSSunday, July 11, 2010
MOSCOW - Injury comeback king David Nalbandian put Argentina through to the Davis Cup semifinals as he completed his country’s first away defeat of Russia, handing the South Americans a 3-2 victory Sunday in their World Group struggle.
The hip surgery victim from 2009 iced the tie with a defeat of Mikhail Youzhny, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4, 6-3 in the deciding rubber.
The match was a must-win after Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko finally came alive in the first of the reverse singles, keeping the hosts in the chase as he beat Eduardo Schwank 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to square the weekend at 2-2.
Nalbandian, playing for the first time in three months after post-operative injuries, won his opening rubber Friday and sealed the victory to sent the three-time finalist to France in September for the semi-final showdown.
Youzhny produced a double-fault to hand over two match points, saving one before crashing a forehand into the net to spell the end.
Argentina had never beaten Russia in Russia in two previous meetings in Moscow. Russia were undefeated in 17 home ties since 1996.
Spanish domination of the past two seasons was buried by the French, who dominated that tie in Clermont Ferrand 5-0.
Only a few hours before Spain were to face the Netherlands in the football World Cup, Iberian sporting hopes were crushed on court for a side missing Rafael Nadal, who attended the football final in Johannesburg while resting a knee.
Gilles Simon and Julien Benneteau put the boot in for the winners, with Simon defeating Nicolas Almagro 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7) and all-rounder Benneteau thrashing Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-3), 6-4.
Spain, winner of the last two Cups, had been hoping to duplicate the hat-trick that the US achieved in the 1970s.
The second semifinal September 17-19 will be played in Serbia after the Serbs achieved an historic first semi-final as an independent nation, 4-1 over hot rival Croatia.
World number two Novak Djokovic clinched the win as he beat Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 and Janko Tipsarevic added to the home pain in Split with his defeat of substitute Antonio Veic 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).
“We felt big pressure, we had to carry the hopes of our nation,” said Djokovic. “This is an unpredictable competition. But we know we can challenge any team in the world.”
The Czech were playing Chile in Coquimbo with victory already secured.
