Nalbandian puts Argentina into semis

David Nalbandian led Argentina into a Davis Cup semi-final against France after a straight-sets victory over Mikhail Youzhny in the deciding rubber of the quarter-final tie against Russia.

Nalbandian, 28, beat Youznhy 7-6, 6-4, 6-3, his third win over the Russian in four head-to-head meetings.

The victory for the South Americans ended Russia's 17-match winning streak in the Davis Cup on home turf, which started after the 1995 defeat in the final at the hands of the United States.

The first set between Nalbandian and Youzhny went to a tiebreak after no break of service game.

Nalbandian, ranked 153rd in the ATP standings, kept his nerve to claim that, with the pair keeping their serves in the second set until the ninth game, when the Argentinian produced a break for a 2-0 lead.

Nalbandian started the third set with an immediate break for a comfortable 2-0 lead.

Youzhny, who is currently 14th in the world, battled hard to stay in the game, but Nalbandian managed to maintain his lead to win the set and book his country's semi-final berth against France, 5-0 victors over defending champions Spain.

Earlier in the day, Nikolay Davydenko battled back from a set down to defeat Eduardo Schwank 4-6, 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to level the overall scores at 2-2.

Also yesterday, Serbia qualified for the semi-finals after Novak Djokovic earned an unassailable 3-1 lead against Croatia.

Djokovic, the world number two, earned the decisive point by beating Marin Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 6-2.

"On Friday and today Novak Djokovic was an unbridgeable obstacle, he played great tennis," Croatia coach Goran Prpic said.

"We all wanted and were hoping to win this match but we have to admit that (Serbia) they were better," he added.

Croatia won the Davis Cup in 2005 and reached the semi-finals last year. In their first semi-final ever Serbia play against the Czech Republic at home.

Quarter-finals: France vs Spain 5-0; Russia vs Argentina 2-3; Croatia vs Serbia 1-4; Chile vs Czech Republic 1-4.