Tennis:The Czech Republic conceded their Davis Cup quarter-final to Russia today after Tomas Berdych injured his ankle in a match against Nikolay Davydenko he had to win to keep the Czechs in the tie.
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.
A physio bandaged up 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.
With the tie poised at 2-1 to Russia, Berdych had to defeat world number four Davydenko. The two players had previously met six times with Davydenko winning every time.
But on Sunday, in front of a loud partisan crowd at a Soviet era
sports complex built on the banks of the River Moskva, Berdych
pushed Davydenko to his limits during a match in which the momentum
swung between the two players.
Berdych injured his ankle just as Davydenko's serve looked
increasingly vulnerable.
The teams had split Friday's singles when Marat Safin beat Berdych, before Radek Stepanek drew the tie level with a three-set win over Igor Andreev. On Saturday, Davydenko and Andreev beat Stepanek and Pavel Vizner in the doubles.
Russia will now face either Argentina or Sweden in the semi-finals in September.