Czechs bounce Japan to reach Davis Cup semi-finals

TOKYO: Title holders the Czech Republic reached the semi-finals of the Davis Cup after clinically dispatching Japan in Saturday´s doubles to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.

Radek Stepanek and Lukas Rosol beat Tatsuma Ito and Yasutaka Uchiyama 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 in front of the Japanese emperor and empress in Tokyo as the two-time defending champions set up a clash with either France or Germany from September 12-14.

Stepanek and Rosol, who both won their singles matches on Friday, bowed politely from the baseline after Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko took their seats behind them as they led by a set and 5-4. They showed no mercy, however, Stepanek ripping a forehand which Uchiyama could only dump into the net to leave Japan two sets down and with a mountain to climb.

The Czechs completed victory when a Rosol bullet fizzed past Ito´s racquet and landed flush on the baseline, sending them into their fifth semi-final in six years and rendering Sunday´s reverse singles dead rubbers.

Injury blow - Japan´s hopes of toppling the experienced Czechs had been severely dented by Kei Nishikori´s withdrawal through injury, although the visitors were also missing Tomas Berydch, who opted not to play.

World number five Berdych recently called for the Davis Cup to be played "at least every two years" to preserve the competition´s allure in an increasingly hectic tennis calendar.

Stepanek´s 6-7, 7-6, 6-1, 7-5 win over Ito and Rosol´s hard-fought 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 victory over Taro Daniel in Friday´s singles had given the Czechs a stranglehold on the tie before the doubles. (AFP)