Tennis/ Davis Cup: Russia, Davis Cup winners three years ago, will meet Argentina in their fourth final after beating the US in their semi-final in Moscow yesterday.
The Russians will host the December 1st-3rd final against an Argentine side who beat Australia inside two days in the Buenos Aires semi-final on Saturday to reach their second final and first since 1981.
Russian substitute Dmitry Tursunov, replacing Mikhail Youzhny, beat Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 17-15 in an epic fourth rubber for an unassailable 3-1 lead after the Americans' doubles victory on Saturday had kept their hopes alive.
Singles victories by Marat Safin over Roddick and Youzhny against James Blake on Friday had put the Russians in command. Blake's 7-5, 7-6 win over Safin in Sunday's final dead rubber made the score 3-2 to Russia.
Argentina, inspired by world number four David Nalbandian, were dominant against the Australians on their favourite clay surface, at the Parque Roca.
Nalbandian beat Mark Philippoussis in three sets in the opening rubber on Saturday and Jose Acasuso completed a rain-interrupted, five-set victory over Lleyton Hewitt yesterday morning before Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri crushed Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley in straights sets in Saturday's doubles.
World number two Rafael Nadal secured Spain's place in the world group for 2007 by beating Italian number one Filippo Volandri 3-6, 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 with a typically combative display in the first reverse singles.
World number one Roger Federer maintained Switzerland's place in the world group with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-3 win over Serbian teenager Novak Djokovic.
