 Ferrer celebrates after defeating Wawrinka |
Defending champions Spain eased into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup with a 4-1 win over Switzerland. David Ferrer beat Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 6-4 6-0 to give Spain an unassailable lead in the World Group tie after they had led 2-1 overnight. David Nalbandian secured Argentina's 3-2 passage against Sweden by defeating Andreas Vinciguerra in the decider. Serbia beat the United States, Russia ousted India, while Chile advanced with a 4-1 win at the expense of Israel. World number 16 Ferrer's straight-sets victory in Logrono extended Spain's unbeaten home run to 19 ties. But Ferrer, who saw Nicolas Almagro beat Marco Chiudinelli 6-1, 6-3 in the final dead rubber, admitted that his place in the team for a July quarter-final clash with France was not guaranteed, with the injured world number three Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco, ranked 11th in the world, expected to return. "I hope to play and be picked, but we will see. I just want to focus on the next tournaments," said Ferrer. France had sealed their last-eight spot against Germany on Saturday, before they wrapped up a 4-1 victory in Toulon on Sunday.  | 606: DEBATE |
Sweden and Argentina were level at 2-2 as Nalbandian took the final match in four sets - 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-4 - to clinch the series in Stockholm and set up a meeting with Russia. Mikhail Youzhny had a 6-2 6-1 6-3 victory over Somdev Devvarman to earn the Russians an unbeatable 3-1 lead over India in Moscow before they eventually progressed 3-2. Serbia guaranteed their place in the next round when their world number two Novak Djokovic overcame John Isner's 24 aces to win 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4 and give his country an insurmountable 3-1 lead over the Americans in Belgrade. It is the first time the Serbs, who lost the last rubber to win 3-2, have reached the quarter-final stage. They will now face Croatia, who advanced against Ecuador on Saturday, for a place in the semi-finals. Chile booked a quarter-final spot against the Czech Republic, victorious over Belgium on Saturday, by going 3-1 up against Israel on Monday. In a tie that started late because of the region's recent earthquake, the home team had led 2-1 overnight in Coquimbo. And they made sure of their passage when Fernando Gonzalez swept aside Dudi Sela 6-4 6-4 6-3. In the fifth rubber Jorge Aguilar beat Harel Levy 7-6 (3) 6-1 to wrap up a 4-1 victory for Chile. Chilean number one Gonzalez said: "We are very happy with this victory, and we hope it is something to get happy about, even if it's small happiness, for all the people affected by the earthquake."
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