Croatia, Slovakia inch towards first Davis final

Croatia and Slovakia inched towards their first Davis Cup final on Saturday, both nations taking a 2-1 lead in their semis with doubles victories.

Croatia's Mario Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic sparked scenes of crowd joy in Split by finishing off Russia's Dmitry Tursunov and Igor Andreev 6-2, 4-6, 7-6, 3-6, 6-4 while Slovakia's Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak beat Argentina's David Nalbandian and Mariano Puerta 7-6, 7-5, 7-6 in an equally tense affair in Bratislava.

Ancic and Ljubicic endured three hours and 37 minutes of see-saw drama in the cacophonous Gripe Sports Hall before triumphing and the hosts now need to win just one of Sunday's two reverse singles to secure a place in December's final.

"We didn't play a great match, I'm just glad it's over," a relieved Ljubicic said. "We had chances to win it in three or four sets, but in the fifth set we were the better team.

"I'm tired, but I'll be okay for tomorrow ... with this crowd, you don't feel tired."

Ancic, who lost the tie's opening match against Nikolay Davydenko on Friday, will play Youzhny in a potential fifth rubber decider on Sunday, although Ljubicic can secure victory by beating Davydenko.

UNHERALDED TEAM

The unheralded Slovak doubles team of Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak were always in control against the Argentine combination and thoroughly deserved their victory.

"Each match, as we get closer to the final, is harder to play," Slovak captain Miroslav Mecir said. "We will have a tough day tomorrow."

While Croatia and Slovakia were left to dream of glory, Britain were consigned to another year of also-ran status in Europe/Africa Zone Group One next season after losing to Switzerland with a day to spare.

World number one Roger Federer combined with regular partner Yves Allegro in Saturday's doubles rubber to see off Greg Rusedski and Andy Murray 7-5, 2-6, 7-6, 6-2 and retain Switzerland's place in the Davis Cup's elite 16-nation World Group.

"This is magnificent -- it's been a very special weekend," Federer told the crowd as his team mates celebrated.

British captain Jeremy Bates could hardly agree with that verdict but did search for positives after three matches during which his side won just a single set.

"I couldn't fault that performance," Bates said of the doubles. "Considering that was the first time they had played together, I thought their communication was great."

The United States, winners of a record 31 Davis Cup titles, moved a step closer to retaining their World Group status when their doubles pairing of twins Bob and Mike Bryan triumphed over Belgium.

MOMENTOUS VICTORY

The Bryans, champions at the U.S. Open earlier this month, beat Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 6-3 in two hours 45 minutes. "It was a lot of fun," Mike Bryan grinned.

In Italy, Daniele Bracciali and Giorgio Galimberti won their third Davis Cup doubles rubber of the year to take the Italians to the brink of an upset victory over Spain in their play-off.

The pair survived a stirring fightback from Feliciano Lopez and Rafael Nadal to record a momentous 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 4-6 9-7 victory in a match lasting more than four-and-a-half hours, to lay the foundation for a return to the World Group after a five-year absence.

"The tension was insane out on the court and it wasn't easy to handle ... we deserve credit for this result and for believing in ourselves right until the end," Galimberti said.

Germany's Tommy Haas and Alexander Waske battled past the Czech Republic's Frantisek Cermak and Leos Friedl 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in Liberec.

The five-setter, lasting more than three-and-a-half hours, gives Germany a 2-1 lead heading into Sunday's reverse singles.

"It was a terrific match. I am proud and happy that we pulled it out. I am exhausted and nothing is decided yet," said Haas.

Austria take a 2-1 lead over Ecuador into the final day of their playoff after Juergen Melzer and Julian Knowle came from behind to beat the Lapentti brothers, Nicolas and Giovanni, 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3.

Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu secured Chile's place in the World Group, beating Aisam Qureshi and Aqeel Khan 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 to give the Chilean team an unassailable 3-0 lead over Pakistan in Santiago.