LONDON, July 17: David Nalbandian completed a single-handed demolition of 28-time champions Australia on Sunday when he thrashed world number two Lleyton Hewitt to send Argentina into the Davis Cup semifinals.

The Argentine posted a humiliating 6-2 6-4 6-2 victory over the man who beat him in the 2002 Wimbledon final to give Argentina a decisive 3-1 lead in Sydney before Guillermo Coria rubbed salt into the wounds to make it 4-1.

Dominik Hrbaty clinched victory for Slovakia, conquerors of holders Spain in the first round, with an easy victory over Martin Wessels. Slovakia defeated the Netherlands 4-1.

Memories of the 2002 final came back to haunt France, however, as they were ambushed again by Russia.

As in Paris three years ago they held a 2-1 lead going into the reverse singles, but Russia, who were without Australian Open champion Marat Safin, again stormed back to turn the tie on its head.

World number seven Nikolay Davydenko overwhelmed French teenager Richard Gasquet 6-2 4-6 6-2 6-1 to square the tie at Moscow’s Olympic stadium before Igor Andreev obliterated Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-0 6-2 6-1 in the deciding fifth rubber.

Mathieu also lost the deciding rubber in 2002 when he squandered a two-set lead to Mikhail Youzhny.

Quarterfinal results:

Croatia beat Romania 4-1

Slovakia beat Netherlands 4-1

5-Russia beat 3-France 3-2

6-Argentina beat 4-Australia 4-1.—Reuters