DUESSELDORF (Germany), May 20: Florian Mayer brought Germany level at 1-1 with Spain on Friday to keep the host nation in contention for a place in the World Team Cup final. Tommy Robredo edged out Tommy Haas 7-6 6-4 to leave Germany on the brink of elimination before Mayer displayed steely-eyed determination to defeat a cramping David Ferrer 3-6 7-6 6-3 and take the tie into a deciding doubles rubber.

The winner of the Blue Group tie will contest Saturday’s final against favourites Argentina.

Sweden beat a second-string United States side 2-1 in the other Blue Group match but their tie had no bearing on the outcome of the tournament as they both lost their previous two contests.

Venus Williams, meanwhile, stepped closer to ending her year-long title drought when she reached the final of the Istanbul Cup with a 6-1 6-3 win over Bulgaria’s Tszvetana Pironkova.

The top-seeded American will meet second seed Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic.

Results:

Robin Blue Group

Spain is level with Germany 1-1:

Tommy Robredo (Spain) bt Tommy Haas (Germany) 7-6(6) 6-4; Florian Mayer (Germany) bt David Ferrer (Spain) 3-6 7-6(3) 6-3

Sweden beat United States 2-1:

T. Johansson/Bjoerkman (Sweden) bt B. Bryan/M. Bryan (United States) 6-4 6-2; Vince Spadea (United States) bt Joachim Johansson (Sweden) 6-3 6-4; Thomas Johansson (Sweden) bt Jeff Morrison (United States) 6-1 6-4.—Agencies