Issue link: http://itf.uberflip.com/i/315708
ITFWORLD SPRING 2014 19 www.itftennis.com by Davis Cup debutant Taro Daniel, and then teamed up to beat Tatsuma Ito and Yasutaka Uchiyama in the doubles, with rising star Jiri Vesely completing the 5-0 whitewash. France will host the Czechs in the semifinals, but only just after Arnaud Clement's side managed to turn around their quarterfinal against Germany following a poor opening day. It was a distinctly opposite theme to France's first-round tie in which they cruised to a 5-0 home victory over Pat Rafter's Australia, who were playing their first World Group match since 2007. Germany had comfortably sealed their place in the last eight with a 4-1 victory in Frankfurt against Spain, a baptism of fire for new captain Carlos Moya who was without both Nadal and David Ferrer. Philipp Kohlschreiber, Florian Mayer and Tommy Haas — playing just his second Davis Cup rubber in seven years — all played their part, but the three Germans were unavailable for the quarterfinal in Nancy. It did not seem to have any initial effect as Carsten Arriens' team took a shock 2-0 lead, with Tobias Kamke beating Julien Benneteau and world No. 119 Peter Gojowczyk playing without fear in his first- ever Davis Cup rubber as he beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in a five-set match lasting four hours and 18 minutes. France's strength in depth eventually told over the weekend, though, as Benneteau and Michael Llodra sparked the comeback with victory over Kamke and Andre Begemann, before Tsonga and Gael Monfils beat Kamke and Gojowczyk respectively in straight sets to keep alive their hopes of ending a 13-year wait for a tenth Davis Cup title. The French will play Czech Republic in the familiar surroundings of Roland Garros. Andrey Golubev ensured Kazakhstan was hugely competitive against Switzerland The French celebrate reaching the last four Andy Murray's defeat to Fabio Fognini was just his second Davis Cup singles loss in 21 matches Tatsuma Ito was Japan's No. 1 player against the Czechs ITFWORLD SPRING 2014 19