David Ferrer has toppled Philipp Kohlschreiber in a thrilling five-hour marathon as Spain roared back from 2-1 down in their Davis Cup tie against Germany to reach the semi-finals.
After world No.1 Rafael Nadal put Alexander Zverev firmly in his place with a 6-1 6-4 6-4 humbling, Ferrer edged Kohlschreiber 7-6 (7-1) 3-6 7-6 (7-4) 4-6 7-5 in the final rubber at a sun-drenched Plaza de Toros in Valencia to wrap up a 3-2 victory.
The 36-year-old Ferrer held firm in the eighth game of the decider to save three break points and then pounced at 5-5 to secure the break before serving out for victory.
Spain will meet France in the semis after the holders reached the last four for a third year in a row after Lucas Pouille came back to beat Fabio Fognini 2-6 6-1 7-6 (7-3) 6-3 in Genoa to clinch their tie with Italy 3-1.
Croatia also made it into the last four as Australian Open runner-up Marin Cilic crushed Kazakhstan’s Mikhail Kukushkin 6-1 6-1 6-1 to seal their tie 3-1.
Croatia will meet the United States in the semis in September. The US sealed their place in the last-four on Saturday after victory in the doubles gave them an unbeatable 3-0 lead.
Italian Fognini missed two chances to take the third set against Pouille, failing to serve out at 5-4 and then wasting a break point in the 11th game, prompting him to smash his racket in frustration.
French No.1 Pouille overpowered Fognini in the tiebreak before comfortably sealing the fourth set.
“I am very proud of the team and I am really relieved because the last match was so close,” France captain Yannick Noah told the competition’s official website.
“It came down to a few points in the third set. I think we have been a little lucky but it’s part of the process and we enjoy our luck.”