DUESSELDORF, May 20: Defending champions Chile defeated hosts Germany on Thursday to clinch a place in Saturday's final of the ATP World Team Cup.
Nicolas Massu defeated German number one Rainer Schuettler 4-6 6-4 6-2 and Fernando Gonzalez eased past Tommy Haas 6-4 7-6 to secure top spot in Red Group.
"I played very well," said Gonzalez, who took his run of victories here to 11. "Nicolas (Massu) had set us up to go into the final if I could win and it was a good win for me.
"I remember the feeling we had last year when we won and I want to do that again. I seem to play well here and I think we can be very confident about the final, whoever we play."
Home favourite Schuettler, a finallist in Monte Carlo last month, could not live up to the expectations of a packed crowd at the Rochusclub and Massu took full advantage. The Czech Republic, beaten by Chile in the 2003 final, condemned Spain to bottom of the group after a 3-0 victory - their only success this week.
Jiri Novak beat Fernando Lopez 7-6 6-1 before Radek Stepanek completed victory with a 6-4 6-3 victory over Albert Costa. Novak and Stepanek then combined for a 6-1 6-0 thrashing of Galo Blanco and Alex Corretja in the doubles. Chile will play the winners of Friday's Blue Group decider between Australia and Argentina.
Results
Red Group
Chile bt Germany 2-1 (Chilean names first) Nicolas Massu bt Rainer Schuettler 6-4 4-6 6-2; Fernando Gonzalez bt Tommy Haas 6-4 7-6 (7-4); Adrian Garcia/Nicolas Massu lost to Rainer Schuettler/Tommy Haas 5-7 2-6
Czech Republic bt Spain 3-0 Jiri Novak bt Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-3) 6-1; Radek Stepanek bt Albert Costa 6-4 6-3; Jiri Novak/Radek Stepanek bt Galo Blanco/Alex Corretja 6-0 6-1.
St Poelten ATP results
VIENNA: Quarter-final results from the 375,750 euros St Poelten Grand Prix ATP tennis tournament on Thursday:
CASABLANCA: Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty stayed on course for his fourth ATP title this year as he reached the semifinals of the Grand Prix Hassan II tournament on Thursday.
The number one seed, ranked 32nd in the world, overwhelmed eighth seed Oscar Hernandez of Spain 6-3 6-0 in less than an hour to set up a last four clash with Frenchman Julien Benneteau who beat countryman Thierry Ascione 6-3 6-4.
The two men met in Adelaide earlier this year where Hrbaty won 6-1 6-4 on his way to winning the hard court tournament. His two other tournament wins were in Auckland and Marseille.
The other semifinal will be between Belgium's Christophe Rochus, a 6-3 6-1 winner against Antony Dupuis, and Spaniard Santiago Ventura who beat Ivo Heuberger 6-3 6-4.
