Buenos Aires, Argentina – Tomas Berdych completed a winning weekend with his third victory in as many days, lifting the Czech Republic past Argentina and into the Davis Cup final.
Berdych took advantage of a depleted Argentina squad on Sunday, thumping Carlos Berlocq in the first reverse singles match, 6-3, 6-3, 6-4, to give the Czechs an insurmountable 3-1 advantage in the best-of-five semifinal tie.
Argentina took the court Sunday without Juan Martin del Potro, who was unable to play because of a nagging wrist injury. Del Potro had given Argentina its first point in Friday's singles play with a three-set win over Radek Stepanek.
Berdych also won his singles match Friday, beating Juan Monaco in five sets, then teamed with Stepanek for a doubles win Saturday to give the Czechs a slim edge entering Sunday's action.
Berlocq was then charged with keeping Argentina alive, but was no match for the sixth-ranked player in the world. Berdych broke serve five times and had his serve broken just once, although Berlocq had 13 break-point opportunities.
The Czechs are back in the Davis Cup final for the second time and will play a familiar foe in Spain. The Spaniards advanced Sunday by beating the United States in the other semifinal and will try for their sixth Davis Cup title since 2000.
Spain will enter November's title series as the reigning champion, having beaten Argentina in last year's final. The Spaniards also claimed the 2009 crown at the hands of the Czechs in a 5-0 whitewash.
The Czechs, who will host Spain in this year's final, improved to 4-1 all-time against Argentina in Davis Cup play.
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