Spanish, Czechs Book Place in Davis Cup Final

Tomas Berdych is the hero of weekend as he led the Czechs back to the final, where they are joined by Davis Cup stalwarts Spain, who dominated the USA on their beloved red clay.  Eight of the ten World Group ties had live Sundays, and yet another playoff choke by the Aussies occurred.  Two Davis Cup stalwarts were relegated  Here's my wrap:

World Group Semis

ESP 3 USA 1 - Almagro came through to beat in 5 sets on day 1 and that pretty sealed the tie.  Ferrer got his 2 points and the Bryans were even made to work in the doubles match as they improved their Davis Cup record to 20-2

CZE 3 ARG 2 - Berdych won all 3 points to send the Czechs through after Del Potro beat Stepanek in the opener.  However, the Argentine no. 1 had to pull out his match with Berdych with a wrist injury, which virtually assured the Czechs of advancing.  Monaco beat Stepanek in the dead rubber.

World Group Playoffs

KAZ 3 UZB 1 - Kukushkin came up big for the home side by clinching against Istomin in the 4th rubber.  Golubev may have played a part by taking the Uzbek no. 1 to 5 sets in the opener.

GER 3 AUS 2 - How many times have we seen the Aussies breeze through Asia/Pacific Zone Group I only to choke in the playoffs?  It happened again after Tomic and Hewitt/Guccione put them up 2-1.  Then on Sunday, Mayer and Stebe beat Tomic and Hewitt to keep the Germans in the World Group.  Stebe even beat the great fighter Hewitt in straight sets in the 5th rubber.

ISR 3 JPN 2 - This was a stunning result and Amir Weintraub (world no. 223) is the one who deserves the credit.  With Nishikori sitting out day one, Weintraub beat Ito and Soeda, the latter in a live 5th rubber, to complement the Israelis amazing doubles team and send Israel back to the World Group.  Weintraub is developing quite a Davis Cup reputation.

BEL 5 SWE 0 - The only surprise here is that Sweden couldn't even manage to win the doubles rubber, although Lindstedt never showed up.

CAN 4 RSA 1 - South Africa, playing without Anderson and de Voest, managed to get on the board by beating Nestor/Pospisil in the doubles.

BRA 5 RUS 0 - Russia was without it best players, maybe even its second best players, and they were dominated by Bellucci, Dutra Silva, and Brazil, which dropped just one set.  Russia will play in Europe/Africa Zonal Group I next year for the first time since 1992.  Brazil hasn't played in the since World Group since 2003.

ITA 4 CHI 1 - Fognini overcame Capdeville in 5 sets over 2 days which pretty much ended it.  Chile would salvage the doubles though to force a live Sunday.

SUI 3 NED 2 - Federer and Wawrinka cruised through day 1 but then lost in the doubles to Haase/Rojer.  Federer got it done in the 4th rubber though with a straight sets win over Haase.

2013 World Group:  Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Spain, Switzerland, United States

Teams promoted to World Group for 2013 (last World Group year):  Brazil (2003), Belgium (2011), Israel (2010), 

Teams relegated to Zonal Groups for 2013 (last Zonal Group year):  Japan (2011), Russia (1992), Sweden (2000)

The 2013 draw is on Wednesday and I may have a post about that later this week.  It would be nice to see the USA get a home tie.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group I

ROU 3 FIN 2 - Nieminen got his 2 singles wins but Romania won the doubles and Victor Crivoi won the live 5th rubber 7-5 in the 5th over Heliovaara.  Finland will host Demark in a relegation tie in October

SVK 3 POR 1 - Klizan won his 2 singles rubbers and clinched for Slovakia.  Joao Sousa won a match for Portugal, which is relegated to Group II, where they last played in 2010.

Europe/Africa Zonal Group II

UKR 3 LAT 2 - Gulbis and Stakhovsky each won on day 1, then Ukraine won the doubles but Gulbis brought Latvia back level by beating Stakhovsky.  However, Ukraine had the last say as Ilya Marchenko beat Andis Juska in the live 5th rubber.  (Juska had won a live 5th rubber over Hungary to get Latvia to the promotion tie.)  Ukraine will rejoin Group I after just a one year absence.

POL 3 BLR 2 - This was a sweep as the Polish got points from Kubot, Janowicz, and their doubles studs Fyrstenburg/Matkowski.  They also return to Group I after being demoted for only one year.

Americas Zonal Group I

ECU 4 PER 1 - Peru only won the doubles, and is relegated back to Group II after playing in Group I for only one year.

Americas Zonal Group II

DOM 3 MEX 2 - World no. 168 Estrella got 2 singles wins then was helped out by 22-yr-old Hernandez as the Dominicans stunned Mexico.  They will be promoted to Group I for only the second time in history (last 2010).

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group I

IND 5 NZL 0 - India blitzed New Zealand with former Aussie Open boys champ Bhambri and Vardhan, as all their top players didn't show.  The Kiwis did force 2 live 5 setters but couldn't prevail.  New Zealand will play at Taiwan in October in the relegation tie.

Asia/Pacific Zonal Group II

INA 3 PHI 2 - Christopher Rungkat won 3 points for Indonesia including the clinching 4th rubber.  They will compete in Group I for the first time since 2005.