World No 5 David Ferrer will lead Spain's bid to claim their fourth Davis Cup title in five years when the holders take on the Czech Republic in this month's final in Prague.
David Ferrer toppled Philipp Kohlschreiber in a thrilling five-hour marathon decider as Spain roared back from 2-1 down in their Davis Cup tie against Germany to reach the semi-finals on Sunday.
Enrico Piperno, who was also India's Fed Cup coach says, lack of funding, support and infrastructure will cease creation of a top-50 player
Substitute Dmitry Tursunov beat Andy Roddick in an epic five-set battle to seal a Russian victory over the United States.
Top American Sam Querrey picked a good time to pull off his first five-set Davis Cup victory when he stopped Victor Troicki 7-6, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 to level the United States' tie against Serbia 1-1. Querrey's victory boosted the hosts after World No 1 Novak Djokovic earlier raced past John Isner 7-6, 6-2, 7-5.
Somdev Devvarman routed world number 59 Yen-Hsun Lu 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 to steer India to the third round of the Asia/Oceania Group I Davis Cup competition as the stunning victory gave the visitors an unassailable 3-1 lead against Chinese Taipei in Kaohsiung on Sunday. India will now play the winners of the other second round tie between Australia and Thailand in May to qualify for the World Group play-offs.
Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga's unexpected partnership in the doubles allowed France to gain an unbeatable 3-0 lead over Australia on Saturday and join Switzerland and Germany in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup.
Mario Ancic beat Slovakia's Michal Mertinak to claim a 3-2 victory for Croatia in the Davis Cup final.
Slovakian number two Karol Beck was handed the daunting task of trying to stop Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic when the draw for the Davis Cup final was made on Thursday.
Both nations took 2-1 leads in their semi-finals with doubles victories.
India will host South Korea in a Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group I first round tie, from February 1-3, 2013. In Tuesday's draw, India was seeded fourth, while Australia got top billing in the eight-team Group 1.
Harsh Mankad, included as a reserve player in the squad, had earlier demanded a guarantee of him playing in the tie.
India face one of the most ferocious Davis Cup challenges at home as nothing less than their best would be required to challenge world number two Serbia, who will test skill and strength of the hosts even without world number one Novak Djokovic in Bangalore from Friday.
V M Ranjeet will open India's Davis Cup campaign against an unranked but talented Min Hyeok Cho of Korea in the Asia/Oceania Group I tie, beginning in New Delhi on Friday.
Instead he is fielding youngsters Harsh Mankad and Prakash Amritraj in the Asia-Oceania group I Davis Cup tie against China.
In-form Gael Monfils will lead team mates Michael Llodra, Gilles Simon and Arnaud Clement in the Davis Cup final against Serbia, France captain Guy Forget said on Tuesday.
Spain shrugged off the absence of Rafa Nadal to take a 2-0 lead over hosts the United States in their Davis Cup World Group quarter-final after gutsy wins by Feliciano Lopez and David Ferrer on Friday.
Yuki Bhambri fought back from the brink of defeat to script a stunning five-set victory over Daniel King Turner and give India a 1-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group I relegation play-off against New Zealand in Chandigarh on Friday. Vishnu Vardhan, ranked 262, was leading 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-4 in the second singles against Kiwi No 1 Jose Statham when the latter raised concerns about fading light and play was halted for the day.
Summary of sports events and persons who made news on Friday
Hewitt has been reeled in as replacement for unwell Nick Kyrgios
The Davis Cup revolt by Prakash Amritraj and Rohan Bopanna against captain Leander Paes was a diaster waiting to happen, according to former India player Anand Amritraj.