The US clinched a spot in the Davis Cup final on Saturday after easily beating Belarus in doubles to take an unbeatable 3-0 lead, while Spain got two wins to take a 2-1 lead over France in the other semifinal.
Bob and Mike Bryan scored the decisive victory for the Americans, who have won a record 31 Davis Cup titles but none since 1995. The twins topped Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov 6-1, 6-3, 7-5 in Charleston, South Carolina.
PHOTO: AFP
Tommy Robredo and Rafael Nadal gave Spain the edge against 2001 champion France by defeating Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3 in Alicante, Spain. Spain has reached the final three of the last five years but has claimed the title just once in that time, in 2000.
In playoff ties, Australia, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic and Russia all ensured play in the World Group next year by taking decisive 3-0 leads.
The other three playoffs will be decided Sunday, with Germany leading Slovakia 2-1, Romania ahead of Canada 2-1 and Austria and Britain tied at 1-1 with the doubles match suspended because of darkness.
The Bryans had an easy time in Saturday's doubles, converting five-of-eight break point chances to win in straight sets. Their opponents, playing in the semifinals for the first time, failed to get a break despite two chances.
With Voltchkov serving and the Americans up 6-5 in the third set, the game went to deuce. Voltchkov netted a backhand to give the US the advantage, then Bob Bryan returned a forehand just beyond Voltchkov's reach to win.
Bob and Mike Bryan also beat Mirnyi and Voltchkov in the second round at the Olympics last month.
"Davis Cup is the best thing you can do in tennis. For us, I consider this a Grand Slam final," Mike Bryan said. "This match, you know, saved our summer. I mean, I feel great now going home."
Juan Carlos Ferrero started the comeback for Spain, finishing his singles match against Fabrice Santoro 6-3, 6-1, 1-6, 6-3 after a suspension the evening before because of darkness.
In the doubles, Santoro was forced to sit out because of his ailing left wrist and was replaced by Clement. Santoro and Llodra are ranked fifth in doubles.
Spain will be looking to claim its spot in the final on Sunday with Carlos Moya scheduled to go against Santoro and Ferrero facing Paul-Henri Mathieu.
France captain Guy Forget can change his lineup one hour before the start of the opening match.
If Spain wins, it will host the final. If France wins, the US will be the host.
In Perth, Australia, Wayne Arthurs and Todd Woodbridge ensured that Australia will remain in the World Group by beating Mehdi Tahiri and Mounir El Aarej of Morocco 7-6 (7), 7-6 (2), 6-3 to take a 3-0 lead.
Morocco's two best players, Hicham Arazi and Younes El Aynaoui, are not in Perth due to injuries. The Australians are without Mark Philippoussis, their No. 2-ranked player, who has a hip injury.
In Vina Del Mar, Chile, the hosts returned to the World Group for the first time in 19 years as Olympic champions Nicolas Massu and Fernando Gonzalez beat Takao Suzuki and Thomas Shimada of Japan 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 to go up 3-0.
In Rijeka, Croatia, Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic gave Croatia an unassailable 3-0 lead over Belgium, edging Dick Norman and Kristof Vliegen 6-7 (8), 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-3, 7-5.
Croatia, a two-time quarterfinalist, stays in the World Group for its fourth consecutive year.
In Moscow, Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny defeated Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 to give 2002 champion Russia an unbeatable 3-0 lead over Thailand.
Thailand missed its third attempt to enter the World Group.
In Lambare, Paraguay, Jiri Novak and Radek Stepanek clinched victory for the Czech Republic by downing Paulo Carvallo and Ramon Delgado of Paraguay 6-2, 7-5, 6-3.
DOMINATION: McLaren drivers Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris took the first two spots as Mercedes’ George Russell and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen followed them Australian Oscar Piastri yesterday roared back from season-opening disappointment in his home race by winning the Formula One Chinese Grand Prix from pole position in a McLaren one-two with championship-leading teammate Lando Norris. George Russell finished third for Mercedes, ahead of Red Bull’s reigning champion Max Verstappen with Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc and Saturday’s sprint winner Lewis Hamilton fifth and sixth respectively. Piastri’s win denied Norris a third victory in a row, including last year’s Abu Dhabi season-ender, but left champions McLaren unbeaten in two races so far this year. “Mega job guys. The car was very, very lovely,” Piastri said
TO FINAL FOUR: France had 22 chances and scored two goals, while Croatia could not manage a single shot on target in 120 minutes. Les Bleus won 5-4 on penalties France on Sunday overturned a two-goal deficit to qualify for the UEFA Nations League Final Four by eliminating Croatia 5-4 on penalties after a 2-0 victory in their quarter-final second leg at the Stade de France. Dayot Upamecano scored the winning spot kick in a nail-biting shootout in which France keeper Mike Maignan made two saves, sending Les Bleus into the semi-finals against Spain. Michael Olise opened the scoring and Ousmane Dembele doubled their lead 10 minutes from time to send the tie into extra time after their 2-0 loss in Split, Croatia, on Thursday. France had a total of
BRING THE NOISE: Brazil’s Fonseca attracted a boisterous crowd that brought such dominant soccer-style energy the referee switched to Portuguese to ask for quiet Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Monday put an end to Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca’s challenge at the Miami Open, outlasting the 18-year-old 5-7, 7-5, 6-3 in an enthralling contest. Attendance on stadium court had been sparse throughout the day, but the Hard Rock Stadium turned into a mini-Maracana Stadium for Fonseca’s match, complete with Brazilian flags and soccer-style chanting. Fonseca brought his energetic brand of ultra-attacking tennis, but De Minaur was up to the challenge, coping with blistering forehands and a partisan crowd. Such was the dominance of Fonseca’s raucous support that the referee switched to Portuguese for his appeals for quiet. However, De
The Chicago Bulls on Saturday stunned the Los Angeles Lakers 146-115, spoiling superstar LeBron James’ return from a two-week absence with a groin injury. The NBA’s all-time leading scorer James delivered 17 points, six rebounds and four assists in 31 minutes on court. Luka Doncic, back in action after resting a sore ankle, drilled eight three-pointers on the way to a team-high 34 points, but he ran out of steam in the second half, and no one else stepped up. Austin Reaves, who had also missed action with ankle trouble, scored 25 points. Rui Hachimura, playing limited minutes after missing
RSS