ISRAEL REACHES SEMIS IN DAVIS CUP

Israel, a much awaited country to reach the Davis cup semifinals for the first time after taking a 3-0 lead over Russia in Tel Aviv. It was a splendid performance given from Israel and Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich played a superb tennis to win this quarterfinals.

Russia were favourites, but a 6-3 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 6-4 win for Andy Ram and Jonathan Erlich over Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn sealed the surprise win.

On Friday, world number 210 Harle Levy beat Igor Andreev, ranked 24 in the world, 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-2.

And Dudi Sela beat Mikhail Youzhny 3-6 6-1 6-0 7-5 in front of 10,500 fans.

Israel captain Eyal Ran was carried around the Tel Aviv venue by his players after the famous win.

"I have to thank the team for all the remarkable work they have done," said Ran.

Israel will face either Spain or Germany in the last four in September.

Meanwhile, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan beat Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko with ease to keep the united states hopes alive against Croatia, cutting their opponents' lead to 2-1.

The Bryan brothers cruised to a 6-3 6-1 6-3 win on the indoor clay at Zatika Hall.

"We're really happy we're back in this thing," said Mike Bryan.

"We wanted to keep it short after they played for about nine hours on Friday. The guys believe we can actually win this tie, and that's the biggest thing."

The US have come back from a 2-0 deficit only once in 35 attempts, and that came back in 1934.

"Tomorrow, we hope to make history," added Mike Bryan, looking ahead to the reverse singles when James Blake meets Marin Cilic before Mardy Fish takes on Ivo Karlovic.

"We certainly think we can win both matches, but first James has to beat Cilic," said US captain Patrick McEnroe.

Argentina fell 2-1 behind against the Czech Republic after Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Jose Acasuso and Leonardo Mayer 6-1 6-4 6-3.

Eyebrows were raised when Argentina captain Tito Vazquez decided to leave world number five Juan Martin del Potro out of the doubles.

"The decision was planned in advance so that the Czech Republic would put all their best players in the doubles," said Vazquez.

"We were hoping it would be a long match so we had a better chance on Sunday (in the reverse singles).

"Our advantage in the first of the singles is that Berdych will have played eight sets in two days while del Potro will have played only three."

In Marbella, Spain took a 2-1 lead against Germany after the doubles.

Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez beat German duo Nicolas Kiefer and Mischa Zverev in the scorching heat in Marbella.

Left-handers Verdasco and Lopez ultimately had too much firepower for the Germans on the clay at the adapted bull ring and came through 6-3 7-6 6-7 6-3.

"We were in control all the time except for a little blip in the third set," said Lopez.

"We were fighting to the end and I think we deserved the win because we were better."