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U.S. 4, FRANCE 1

WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina -- World No. 6 Andy Roddick (pictured) put defending champions the U.S.A. into the semifinals of the Davis Cup World Group after defeating France's Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday in Winstom-Salem.

The U.S.A. will now face Spain in the semifinals in September.

The 25-year-old Texan fired 15 aces and converted five of 13 break points to seal the victory and an unbeatable 3-1 lead after 1hr., 37mins.

It was Roddick's ninth straight victory in Davis Cup play, having also defeated Michael Llodra on Friday in the first rubber. He improves to 20-2 in home Davis Cup matches and 29-9 overall.

Roddick, who is No. 5 in the ATP 2008 Race, is a two-time titlist this season, lifting the trophies in San Jose (d. Stepanek) and Dubai (d. Lopez). last week he reached the semifinals in Miami, having defeated World No. 1 Roger Federer for only the second time (2-15) in his career in the quarterfinals.

World No. 12 Mathieu, who held two match points against James Blake in the second rubber on Friday, slips to 4-8 in Cup singles play.

James Blake closed Davis Cup quarterfinal action as he came back from a set deficit to defeat fellow Top 10 player Richard Gasquet, 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and forty minutes.

RUSSIA 3, CZECH REPUBLIC 2

MOSCOW -- Russia is through to the semifinals of the Davis Cup World Group for the fourth straight year after World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko secured an unassailable 3-1 lead over the Czech Republic as Tomas Berdych was forced to retire in the fifth set of a marathon encounter 6-3, 2-6, 6-7(5), 6-3, 1-2.

Davydenko had just leveled the match at two sets all when, with the World No. 9 Berdych leading 2-1 in the fifth set, the Czech rolled his right ankle and was unable to continue after 3hrs., 39mins, handing Russia the tie and a place in the semifinals against Argentina.

Davydenko, who replaced Igor Andreev in the line-up today, claimed his second career ATP Masters Series title in Miami last week, defeating No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the final. He now improves to 12-7 in Davis Cup singles play.

Russia secured a 2-1 lead in the tie on Saturday when Andreev and Davydenko paired up to defeat Radek Stepanek and Pavel Vizner in four sets in the doubles rubber.

The victory extends Russia’s unbeaten home run to 16 matches. The last time Russia lost at home was the 1995 final when Pete Sampras won three matches to lead the U.S. to victory. Russia also finished runner-up to the U.S. last year, falling 4-1 in Portland, Oregon.

Lukas Dlouhy clinched the final rubber for the Czech Republic, converting three of eight break points to defeat Marat Safin 6-3, 6-3 in 1hr., 9mins.

GERMANY 1, SPAIN 4

BREMEN, Germany -- Spain extended its lead over Germany to 4-0 after Fernando Verdasco defeated Michael Berrer in the first of two dead rubbers in Bremen on Sunday. The Spaniard fired 31 winners and six aces to wrap up victory in 2hrs., 13mins.

Placed No. 31 in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, the Madrid resident now improves to 7-7 on the season and to 3-3 in Davis Cup singles play.

Germany’s Nicolas Kiefer avoided a whitewash, salvaging a point for his team from the last rubber as he defeated Feliciano Lopez 6-4, 7-6(2).

ARGENTINA 4, SWEDEN 1

BUENOS AIRES -- David Nalbandian (pictured right) fought off a brave challenge from Robin Soderling to book Argentina's place in the semifinals. The World No. 7 fired 69 winners and won just three points more than Soderling as he wrapped up the 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 6-4, 9-7 victory in 4hrs., 9mins.

The victory gives Argentina an unassailable 3-1 lead and makes it 12 straight victorious ties since it last lost at home in 1998. Argentina will have the chance to extend that run further when it faces Russia in the semifinals. The last time the two teams met was in the final two years ago where Russia won 3-2 in Moscow.

Nalbandian now improves to 15-3 in Davis Cup singles play, and to 8-0 on clay. The Cordoba resident has enjoyed great success on clay this season, winning the title in Buenos Aires (d. Acasuso) and finishing runner-up to Nicolas Almagro in Acapulco.

Juan Monaco made it 4-1 for Argentina, converting on three of his five break chances to defeat Thomas Johansson 6-3, 6-3 in the fifth rubber.

Davis Cup World Group Results

Saturday: Spain Reaches Semifinals; U.S., Russia, Argentina Lead 2-1

Friday: Blake Saves Two Match Points, Gives U.S. 2-0 Lead

Friday: Safin Rallies to Win in Five Sets

Davis Cup Quarterfinals Preview

ATP Ranking Points Awarded in 2009 Davis Cup