Argentina upset Australia on grass to reach the semifinals of the Davis Cup on Sunday, and was joined by Russia, Slovakia and Croatia.
Argentina beat the 28-time Davis Cup winner 4-1 in Sydney, Australia. Argentina has never won the Davis Cup.
Russia beat France to qualify for the semifinals for the first time since winning its only title in 2002. That win was also over France. Former Russian President Boris Yeltsin, a tennis aficionado, stepped on to the court in Moscow to dance and help the team celebrate.
Argentina advanced to the semifinals for the third time in the last four years, but has only reached the final once, losing to the United States in 1981.
David Nalbandian sealed the victory by ending a career winless streak against Lleyton Hewitt, who is ranked second in the world. The Argentine won the fourth match of the tie, beating Hewitt 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 Sunday after losing to Hewitt in their previous three encounters.
"This is great, to beat Australia here and on grass, it's amazing," said Nalbandian. "We're trying so hard to win the Davis Cup, and I hope we can do it this year."
Argentina, which traditionally favors clay courts, had taken a 2-1 lead into the final day on the specially made grass court at the Sydney International Tennis Center.
Hewitt, who beat Guillermo Coria on Friday for Australia's only point, converted just one of five break point chances.
"I didn't have a great day today, and he played solid from the start," Hewitt said. "Whenever I got small opportunities, I didn't take them."
Nalbandian, who lost to Hewitt in the 2002 Wimbledon final, used a combination of deft backhand drop shots and stinging forehands that touched the lines to overpower Hewitt.
Coria completed a 4-1 win for Argentina when he beat Peter Luczak, a late replacement for Wayne Arthurs, 6-3, 7-6 (11), in the second reverse singles.
Argentina will face Slovakia in the semifinals. Slovakia beat the Netherlands 4-1 to reach the final four for the first time, playing on indoor courts in Bratislava.
Dominik Hrbaty secured the tie when Peter Wessels retired hurt. Hrbaty won the first two sets 6-3, 6-1, and was leading 3-0 in the third when Wessels pulled out with a rib injury.
"From now on, everybody will know that very good tennis is played in Slovakia," Hrbaty said. "I'm looking forward to the match with Argentina," he added. "We could win with the strength of our team."
Slovakia's Michal Mertinak defeated Dutchman Melle van Gemerden 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 in the dead rubber.
Russia rallied to beat France 3-2 when Igor Andreev and Nikolay Davydenko won their reverse singles matches.
Nine-time champion France was ahead 2-1 and one point away from qualifying for the semifinals after winning Saturday's doubles. Davydenko, who led Russia in the absence of the injured Marat Safin, defeated Richard Gasquet 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 to draw Russia even.
"I was very tired and [Davydenko] played a perfect match. After I won the second set, I simply ran out of fuel," Gasquet said.
Andreev then scored the decisive victory, allowing Paul-Henri Mathieu to win only three games -- 6-0, 6-2, 6-1.
"I think I've played the best match in my career," Andreev said.
France was without its top player, Sebastien Grosjean, who skipped the tie to spend time with his family.
Russia is now undefeated at home in ten matches since losing to the US in the 1995 final.
RSS