Russia set up home final against Argentina

Russia, Davis Cup winners three years ago, will meet Argentina in their fourth final after beating the US in their semi-final in Moscow yesterday.

The Russians will host the Dec. 1-3 final against an Argentine side who beat Australia in their Buenos Aires semi-final on Saturday to reach their second final and first since 1981.

Russian substitute Dmitry Tursunov, replacing Mikhail Youzhny, beat Andy Roddick 6-3 6-4 5-7 3-6 17-15 in an epic fourth rubber for an unassailable 3-1 lead after the Americans' doubles victory on Saturday had kept their hopes alive.

Singles victories by Marat Safin over Roddick and Youzhny against James Blake on Friday had put the Russians in command. Blake's 7-5 7-6 win over Safin in the final dead rubber made the score 3-2 to Russia.

Argentina, inspired by world number four David Nalbandian, were dominant against the Australians on their favourite clay surface at the Parque Roca.

Nalbandian beat Mark Philippoussis in three sets in the opening rubber on Friday and Jose Acasuso completed a rain-interrupted, five-set victory over Lleyton Hewitt on Saturday morning before Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri crushed Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley in straight sets in the doubles.

Calleri stepped in for the first reserve singles yesterday against Hanley and won 6-0 6-3. Arthurs gave Juan Ignacio Chela a walkover to hand Argentina a 5-0 win.

Play-off winners

World number two Rafael Nadal secured Spain's place in the world group for 2007 by beating Italian number one Filippo Volandri 3-6 7-5 6-3 6-3 in the first reverse singles.

Nadal's win gave 2004 champions Spain an unassailable lead and David Ferrer beat Andreas Seppi 6-2 6-2 to complete a 4-1 play-off victory.

World number one Roger Federer maintained Switzerland's place in the world group when his 6-3 6-2 6-3 win over Serbian Novak Djokovic gave his nation a decisive 3-1 lead.

Belgium returned to the world group with a 3-2 victory over Slovakia in Bratislava, Germany beat Thailand 4-1 and Romania took an unassailable 3-1 lead over South Korea.