PARIS, Feb 10: Switzerland, Sweden, Russia and the conquerors of the United States, Croatia, completed the Davis Cup quarterfinal jigsaw on Sunday, bringing a European flavour to April’s last eight matches.
France, Spain, Australia and Argentina had already claimed their berths with 3-0 winning leads from Saturday in this men’s tennis world championship team event, meaning Europe now have six countries still in the competition.
Switzerland and Sweden could be particularly satsified with a stellar performance on Sunday to win both singles matches for 3-2 comeback victories over the Netherlands and Brazil.
Croatia earned the first singles of the day for a 3-1 winning lead over the weakened American team in Zagreb and defending champions Russia left it late before earning their 3-2 away victory over Czech Republic in Ostrava.
Brazil saw their hopes foiled by Sweden who rose to the occasion and sent them packing with a 3-2 victory in Helsingborg.
Veteran Jonas Bjorkman brought the Swedes back into the game, after they trailed 2-1 overnight, by beating former world number one Gustavo Kuerten 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 6-1 in a thriller of a match.
“It really takes a lot to stop me when I am in such a mood,” Bjorkman said following his victory.
It was then left to newcomer Andreas Vinciguerra and Brazilian reserve Flavio Saretta to decide the outcome of this World Group first round tie.
But Saretta proved an easy match for Vinciguerra, who won 6-1, 7-5, 6-3, thereby sending Sweden into the quarterfinals where they will meet Australia on home soil in Malmo.
Switzerland’s Roger Federer and Michel Kratochvil both won their Sunday singles against hosts Netherlands to complete a 3-2 victory in the Dutch city of Arnhem.
Though Switzerland were 2-1 down overnight, Federer beat Sjeng Schalken 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 7-5 and Michel Kratochvil beat Martin Verkerk 1-6, 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 in a rousing fightback.
Switzerland now travel to last year’s finalists France in their last eight fixture.
Federer, as expected of one of the world’s top players, made short work of his singles match but the tough rubber was yet to come with the match balanced at 2-2.
The form book had pointed to 24-year-old Verkerk who just a week ago won his first ATP tournament of his career in Milan but in the end he was not up to it.
Croatia scored a 4-1 victory over the United States to set up a quarterfinal in Spain.
“This is a great victory for myself and for the whole squad. It was very difficult since I was under big pressure,” said Ivan Ljubicic after defeating James Blake 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-3 in a difficult match.
Ljubicic’s victory followed Saturday’s dramatic doubles win when he and the 2001 Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic beat Blake and Mardy Fish 3-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4, 6-4.
In the last rubber on Sunday, Mario Ancic defeated Taylor Dent 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (12/10) in a match which had the atmosphere of an exhibition game.
Russia had led 2-1 overnight but Jiri Novak levelled the scored in the first Sunday singles, beating Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) to level the overall match score at 2-2.
But, with Russia once again proving their mettle in tight situations as happened when they edged France 3-2 in the final last December, Nikolai Davydenko beat Radek Stepanek 1-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 3-6, 6-0 to earn their quarterfinal in Argentina on April 4-6.—AFP