Porec, Croatia - Croatia will line up in the Davis Cup World
Group semi-finals against the Czech Republic after chasing the
32-times champion US Sunday out of the competition with a 6-3, 6-3,
4-6, 6-2 defeat of James Blake Sunday.
The result on indoor clay gave the hosts a winning 3-1 scoreline.
'This was one of the greatest ties I've played so far,' said
Cilic, 'I've gained a lot of experience here.
'The Czechs are a great team, but playing at home is a little bit
of an advantage, so with our team we can go through to the final,' he
said of the 2005 champions.
Radek Stepanek, who suffered with an injury at Wimbledon, insured
the Czech advance in Ostrava, completing a 3-2 weekend with a defeat
of Juan Monaco 7-6 (7-5), 6-3, 6-2.
World number five Juan Del Potro had kept the visitors alive, his
6-4, 6-4, 6-4 defeat of Tomas Berdych knotting the score at 2-2.
The second semi-final September 18-20 will pit underdog Israel
against Spain after Juan Carlos Ferrero rode to the rescue of the
defending champions in Marbella.
In Tel Aviv, the Israelis finished off a dream weekend to reach a
first-ever semi-final after defeating two-time champion Russia, 4-1.
Harel Levy completed 4-1 home result, beating Igor Kunitsyn 6-4,
4-6, 7-6 (7-2) after Israeli Dudi Sela was forced to retire trailing
Igor Andreev 4-3.
Ferrero, 29, has been storming through a comeback this season,
winning a clay title in Casablanca three months ago to end a
five-year title drought and reaching a Wimbledon quarter-final
against Andy Murray.
The veteran made his first Davis Cup start since 2005 as he came
earned his 16th victory from 23 rubbers.
Earlier German Philipp Kohlschreiber clawed the visitors back with
a 6-4, 6-2, 1-6, 2-6, 8-6 defeat of Fernando Verdasco, playing for
his third straight day.
'My legs were not working like I wanted, it was so tough to play,'
said Verdasco, point-man in a side missing Rafael Nadal. 'It's
unfortunate that I lost in the fifth but I'm proud I was able to give
more than 100 per cent.'
Blake's battering on indoor clay was the second defeat of the
weekend for the 29-year-old who lost in the first round at both the
French Open and Wimbledon.
His record dropped to 7-10 in live rubbers.
'Marin has played great this weekend, he took care of business
against Mardy (Fish on Friday) and played a very solid match today,'
said Blake. 'I gave him a few too many chances.
'I was a bit too passive, didn't take as many risks as I normally
do, and he took advantage of that.'
Croatia are the only team with a positive record against the
Americans, having won all three of their ties in 2003, 2005 and at
this Adriatic port resort.
The US was trying to recover from 2-0 down for the first time
since 1934 but failed spectacularly in the attempt as Blake fell.
Cilic, ranked 15th, called his effort 'one of the best matches
I've played.'
'I felt good on court, moved really well, and even though I lost
the third set I felt I was playing good and my tactics were perfect,
so I kept going and eventually broke him.'
USA
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