Ferrer seals Spain’s passage into semi-finals

The world No 5 gave the hosts an unassailable 3-1 advantage with a 7-5 6-3 6-3 victory in the fourth rubber in Oropesa del Mar. Ferrer broke in game 12 of the opening set and asserted his authority thereafter, breaking twice in the second and third sets.

“I played with confidence and in the important moments I think I played better than him,” Ferrer said on the Davis Cup website.

Spain, who had established a 2-0 lead after the first day, lost Saturday’s doubles rubber to keep the tie alive until day three.

Nicolas Almagro defeated Alexander Peya 7-5 7-5 in the dead fifth rubber to complete a 4-1 victory. John Isner sent the USA into the last four by winning the decisive fourth-rubber against world number six Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. The big-serving Isner put his team 3-1 up with a 6-3 7-6 (7/4) 5-7 6-3 victory in Roquebrune.

The nations had been all square after the opening day, but doubles specialists Bob and Mike Bryan put the States in the driving seat yesterday. Gilles Simon beat Ryan Harrison 6-2 6-3 to make the final result 3-2. The Czech Republic and Argentina progressed to the semi-finals with 4-1 wins. Tomas Berdych saw off Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic in three closely-fought tie breaks – 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (8/6) 7-6 (9/7) – in the fourth rubber to send the Czechs through.

Lukas Rosol then completed an impressive weekend for the Czechs by beating Viktor Troicki 7-6 (7/5) 7-5. Juan Martin del Porto eased past Marin Cilic 6-1 6-2 6-1 to send Argentina, last season’s beaten finalists, into the semis. The former US Open champion took advantage of his opponent’s tiredness - Cilic had been one half of Croatia’s defeated doubles pairing on Saturday and also been taken to five sets by David Nalbandian in Friday’s opening rubber - to settle the fourth rubber with ease, breaking eight times.

Juan Monaco then crushed Antonio Veic 6-1 6-1.