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Israel in command against Russia

TEL AVIV: Israel has taken a surprising 2-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup quarterfinals after Dudi Sela rallied to beat Mikhail Youzhny in the second singles match.

Sela won 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5 on Friday after Harel Levy beat Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2, putting Israel one win away from its first semifinal appearance.

Israel can wrap up the best-of-five series in Saturday’s doubles match when Andy Ram and Yoni Erlich take on Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn.

Germany draws level

Meanwhile, in Marabella, Philipp Kohlschreiber beat Tommy Robredo 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 as Germany recovered to tie its quarterfinal against defending champion Spain 1-1.

Kohlschreiber converted three of his five break chances to beat Robredo, who failed to convert either of his two chances.

Spain had taken an early lead after Fernando Verdasco rallied to beat Andreas Beck 6-0, 3-6, 6-7 (4), 6-2, 6-1 in the first singles match.

Czechs pull ahead

Favourite Tomas Berdych needed five sets to overcome Juan Monaco 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 and give the Czech Republic a 1-0 lead over Argentina in their quarterfinals.

Berdych, ranked 20th, was struggling with his serve in the first set but broke his 62nd-ranked opponent three times to take it on the indoor hard court at CEZ Arena, Ostrava.

Monaco fought back in the second, breaking Berdych twice to get back into the match and went on to take the third with Berdych double faulting to give away a break.

But Berdych improved his serve in the remaining two sets to prevail.

The results: Quarterfinals:

At Tel Aviv (Israel): Israel leads Russia 2-0 (Harel Levy bt Igor Andreev 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2; Dudi Sela bt Mikhail Youzhny 3-6, 6-1, 6-0, 7-5).

At Marabella (Spain): Spain tied with Germany 1-1 (Fernando Verdasco bt Andreas Beck 6-0, 3-6, 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-1; Tommy Robredo lost to Philipp Kohlschreiber 3-6, 4-6, 4-6).

At Ostrava (Czech Republic): Czech Republic leads Argentina 1-0 (Tomas Berdych bt Juan Monaco 6-4, 2-6, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2).

At Porec (Croatia): Croatia leads United States 1-0 (Ivo Karlovic bt James Blake 6-7(5), 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(3), 7-5). — Agencies

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