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Spain beats Argentina in Davis Cup semis
Malaga, Sept 23: Spain beat Argentina 3-2 in Davis Cup semi-final. Spain completed a 3-2 victory over Argentina in their Davis Cup semi-final on Sunday (September 21) to secure a final against Australia in November. Spain led 2-1 into the final day but were rocked by Agustin Calleri`s remarkable 6-4 7-5 6-1 victory over world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Malaga, Sept 23: Spain beat Argentina 3-2 in Davis Cup semi-final. Spain completed a 3-2 victory over Argentina in their Davis Cup semi-final on Sunday (September 21) to secure a final against Australia in November.
Spain led 2-1 into the final day but were rocked by Agustin Calleri`s remarkable 6-4 7-5 6-1 victory over world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero.
Calleri was back on the specially constructed clay court at Malaga on Sunday after being called in as a late replacement for Mariano Zabaleta and he responded with a brilliant win. Ferrero, the French Open champion and undisputedly the world`s top player on clay, must have been confident of claiming the third point for Spain, but after two tight sets he was blown away by his opponent. Calleri, fizzing down aces, service winners and unreturnable groundstrokes, got the crucial first-set break in game seven and then came back from 3-5 down in the second, saving five set-points along the way, before edging it 7-5.
Ferrero was at a loss to how to deal with Calleri in the third set and quickly found himself 4-0 down before the Argentine clinched victory in two hours 40 minutes.
In the deciding match of the tie Carlos Moya crushed Gaston Gaudio 6-1 6-4 6-2. The Spaniard took control from the start and racked up a score of five games before the Argentine could win one in the first set. The second set was more evenly disputed but Moya limited Gaudio to four games before winning the set and then the Spanish player took control again and reeled off the final set 6-2.
Spain beat Australia in the final in Barcelona in 2000 to win the Davis Cup for the first time but the Australians will have home advantage this year.
Results (Spanish names first): Sunday`s singles: Carlos Moya beat Gaston Gaudio 6-1 6-4 6-2 Juan Carlos Ferrero lost to Agustin Calleri 4-6 5-7 1-6 Saturday`s doubles: Alex Corretja/Albert Costa lost to Lucas Arnold/Calleri 3-6 6-1 4-6 2-6 Friday`s singles: Carlos Moya beat Mariano Zabaleta 5-7 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1 Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Gaston Gaudio 6-4 6-0 6-0
Bureau Report
Calleri was back on the specially constructed clay court at Malaga on Sunday after being called in as a late replacement for Mariano Zabaleta and he responded with a brilliant win. Ferrero, the French Open champion and undisputedly the world`s top player on clay, must have been confident of claiming the third point for Spain, but after two tight sets he was blown away by his opponent. Calleri, fizzing down aces, service winners and unreturnable groundstrokes, got the crucial first-set break in game seven and then came back from 3-5 down in the second, saving five set-points along the way, before edging it 7-5.
Ferrero was at a loss to how to deal with Calleri in the third set and quickly found himself 4-0 down before the Argentine clinched victory in two hours 40 minutes.
In the deciding match of the tie Carlos Moya crushed Gaston Gaudio 6-1 6-4 6-2. The Spaniard took control from the start and racked up a score of five games before the Argentine could win one in the first set. The second set was more evenly disputed but Moya limited Gaudio to four games before winning the set and then the Spanish player took control again and reeled off the final set 6-2.
Spain beat Australia in the final in Barcelona in 2000 to win the Davis Cup for the first time but the Australians will have home advantage this year.
Results (Spanish names first): Sunday`s singles: Carlos Moya beat Gaston Gaudio 6-1 6-4 6-2 Juan Carlos Ferrero lost to Agustin Calleri 4-6 5-7 1-6 Saturday`s doubles: Alex Corretja/Albert Costa lost to Lucas Arnold/Calleri 3-6 6-1 4-6 2-6 Friday`s singles: Carlos Moya beat Mariano Zabaleta 5-7 2-6 6-2 6-0 6-1 Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Gaston Gaudio 6-4 6-0 6-0
Bureau Report