Davydenko puts Russia into semis of Davis Cup tennis

MOSCOW—Nikolay Davydenko of Russia sent his squad into the Davis Cup semi-finals after Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic was forced to retire with a leg injury in the first of Sunday’s reverse singles. Davydenko, 26, won 6-3, 2-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 1-2 in three hours 39 minutes to record his seventh win over Berdych in as many meetings and give Russia an unassailable 3-1 advantage.
“It was very difficult match with equal chances for both of us,” Davydenko said. “I was ready to play five sets up to the end today but it was very difficult to keep myself concentrated throughout the match.” “One way or another we won and I’m happy with it.”
“I’m starting to fear of myself as Serb Novak Djokovic was forced to retire in the match against me the opening round, while Berdych followed in his steps today,” Davydenko added.
The rivals both held serve until the eighth game, when Davydenko broke to gain a one-set lead in 41 minutes. But in the second the 22-year-old Czech picked up steam and broke Davydenko serve twice to level at one set-all after one hour 19 minutes on clay court of Luzhniki small indoor arena. No big serves were produced in the third set, which the opponents decided in a tiebreak.
Berdych won it acting at slightly more accuracy to earn a 2-1 advantage after two hours 29 minutes of playing. However, Davydenko, spurred by his home crowd, broke in the eighth game of the fourth set to pull the scores level at two sets all after three hours 12 minutes. In the deciding set the rivals traded breaks early before Berdych twisted his right leg and was unable to continue. On Friday, Marat Safin of Russia battled from two sets down to put his squad into the lead with a 6-7 (5/7), 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over Berdych. In the second singles’ clash Stepanek experienced few troubles beating Andreev in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, to level the scores at 1-1. On Saturday, Mikhail Youzhny and Andreev battled from a set down to beat Czech pair Stepanek and Pavel Vizner 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 6-4 to lift Russia to 2-1. The winner of the tie will face either Argentina or Sweden for a place in the final.

—Agencies