The Hindu : Switzerland enters semifinals

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 07, 2003

Sport

Sport - Tennis

Switzerland enters semifinals

TOULOUSE April 6. Roger Federer crushed substitute Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-0, 6-2 in Sunday's first reverse singles to earn Switzerland a spot in the semifinals of the Davis Cup while eliminating France. Switzerland won 3-2 after George Bastl lost the final match to Nicolas Escude 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (7-3).

The Swiss, playing in the last four for just the second time, will travel to Australia for the Sept. 19-21 semifinals, while Spain hosts Argentina.

In other ties, Spain closed it's rout of Croatia by taking both reverse singles matches, while Australia also downed Sweden 5-0.

It was the first time Switzerland had beaten France in 11 years, and avenged Switzerland's quarterfinal loss to France two years ago.

France won the Davis Cup in 2001, but lost to Russia in the final last year. Despite the loss, France has an impressive record in Davis Cup against Switzerland — posting nine wins against two losses.

In Malmoe, Sweden, Wayne Arthurs of Australia topped Joachim Johansson of Sweden 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4), and Mark Philippoussis downed Magnus Norman 7-5, 5-7, 6-3 as Australia rolled into the semifinals again.

In Valencia, Spain, French Open champion Albert Costa defeated Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia 6-3, 6-4 and Alex Corretja downed Mario Ancic 7-5, 6-3 to give Spain the sweep.

Spain has yet to lose a match in this year's Davis Cup. It beat Belgium 5-0 in the first round in Seville in February. — AP

World Group Quarterfinals results:

At Valencia: Spain bt Croatia 5-0 (Albert Costa bt Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-4; Alex Corretja bt Mario Ancic 7-5, 6-3).

At Malmoe: Australia bt Sweden 5-0 (Wayne Arthurs bt Joachim Johansson 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7-4); Mark Philippoussis bt Magnus Norman 7-5, 5-7, 6-3).

At Toulouse: Switzerland beat France 3-2 (Roger Federer bt Fabrice Santoro 6-1, 6-0, 6-2, George Bastl lost to Nicolas Escude 6-7 (5-7), 7-5, 6-7 (3-7).

At Buenos Aires: Argentina leads Russia 4-0 (David Nalbandian & Lucas Arnold bt Yevgeny Kafelnikov & Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-3; Mariano Zabaleta bt Mikhail Youzhny 6-1, 6-4).

Zonal results:

At Manila: Philippines beat Kazakhstan 3-2 (Joseph Victorino lost to Alexey Kedriouk 5-7, 6-7 (7-9); Roland Ruel lost to Anton Tsymbalov 2-6, 3-6).

At Toyota: Japan bt Pakistan 5-0 (Gouichi Motomura bt Inam Gul 6-0, 6-1; Takao Suzuki bt Shahzad Khan 6-2, 6-2)

At Tashkent: Thailand bt Uzbekistan 4-1 (Paradorn Srichaphan bt Vadim Kutsenko 6-3, 6-3, 6-3; Danai Udomchoke bt Murad Inoyatov 6-4, 6-3)

At Wuhan: Chinese Taipei bt China 3-2 (Yen-Hsun Lu lost to Ben-Qiang Zhu 2-6, 1-6 (retd); Yeu-Tzuoo Wang bt Shao-Xuan Zeng 6-3, 6-4, 6-2).

At Jakarta: Indonesia bt South Korea 4-1 (Peter Handoyo & Suwandi Suwandi bt Chung Hee-seok & Chung Hee-sung 7-5, 6-4, 6-4; Suwandi bt Im Kyu-tae 6-4, 6-4, 6-1; Prima Sempatiajo lost to Chung Hee-seok beat 5-7, 6-7 (2-7).

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