Russia reached the Davis Cup semifinals on Sunday after Czech number one Tomas Berdych injured his ankle and was forced to quit midway through the fifth set of his tussle against Nikolay Davydenko. Russia had led the tie 2-1 going into Sunday's reverse singles and Berdych's misfortune allowed the host to seal the winning point and a place in the last four for a fourth successive year. It will face either Argentina or Sweden in September. World number nine Berdych fell when he lunged for a forehand baseline shot on a break point against Davydenko's serve in the fourth game of the fifth set. The 22-year-old's face contorted in agony as he slumped to the floor. A physio strapped Berdych's ankle but eventually he limped off, dashing the Czech Republic's hopes of an upset victory over Russia, who have not lost at home since 1995, and handing Davydenko a 6-3, 2-6, 6-7, 6-3, 1-2 victory. Berdych left the stadium shortly after the match to head back to the Czech Republic for checks on his ankle. Czech Lukas Dlouhy earned a consolation 6-3, 6-3 win over Marat Safin in the final dead rubber, leaving Russia to celebrate a 3-2 margin.Aussies complete sweep Australia completed a 5-0 sweep of Thailand while Japan earned a dose of consolation by winning both reverse singles against India on Sunday in Davis Cup regional Asian play. Australia and India progress to September playoffs to determine places for the elite World Group in 2009. They will both play first-round losers from this year's World Group. In other results Sunday, Uzbekistan beat Philippines 3-2 and Taiwan won both reverse singles to defeat Kazakhstan 3-2 and preserve their places in Asia/Oceania zone Group One next year. Philippines and Kazakhstan will play off in September to determine which team gets relegated to Group Two. With Australia having already taken a tie-winning 3-0 lead over Thailand, Peter Luczak replaced Lleyton Hewitt in the opening reverse singles Sunday and beat Thailand's Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 5-7, 6-4. Chris Guccione, who staved off three match points to win the opening match of the tie over Danai, defeated Weerapat Doakmaiklee 6-2, 7-6 (1). Japan deservedly got something out of its tie with India, which had already clinched it 3-0. Kei Nishikori beat Mahesh Bhupathi 7-5, 6-1, while Satoshi Iwabuchi downed India's captain Leander Paes 6-4, 4-6, 6-4. Japan and Thailand will remain in Asia/Oceania zone Group One. In Asia-Oceania Group Two, China secured a 3-2 win over Indonesia, and will travel to New Zealand - which swept Kuwait 5-0 - in September to determine which nation goes up to Group One. Hong Kong won both reverse singles to edge Lebanon 3-2 while Oman beat Pacific Oceania. Hong Kong and Oman stay in Group Two while both Lebanon and Pacific Oceania go down to Group Three. Spain ahead 4-0 In Bremen, Fernando Verdasco beat Germany's Michael Berrer 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 Sunday after Spain had already clinched the Davis Cup tie and a spot in the semifinals. Spain can sweep the tie if Feliciano Lopez makes it 5-0 against Nicolas Kiefer later Sunday. The Americans lead their tie against France 2-1 in Winston-Salem and, despite going down in the doubles, will be favorites to seal their passage into the last four. Top-ranked Mike and Bob Bryan missed out on a chance to become the most successful American doubles pairing when they lost 6-7, 7-5, 6-3, 6-4 to Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra. Argentina took a 2-1 lead. David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas made the most of the raucous Buenos Aires atmosphere to beat Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman and Robert Linstedt 7-5, 6-4, 6-4 in an ill
