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Russia through to semifinals in Davis Cup

MOSCOW, April 9, (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Marat Safin confidently won the final rubber of the Davis Cup quarter finals against France late Sunday to put Russia through to the semis and to continue the holder's dream of retaining the title.

In front of a home crowd at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow Safin beat the Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu in straight sets (7-6 6-3 6-2).

Friday saw Nikolai Davydenko lose against Paul-Henri Mathieu in the singles, but Mikhail Yuzhny then leveled the score for the home side by beating Richard Gasquet. In the doubles Davydenko and teammate Igor Andreyev were victorious over the French pair Sebastien Grosjean and Michael Llodra taking Russia to 2:1 in the tie.

But Grosjean leveled the score for the French at 2:2 by overcoming Andreyev following a grueling five set tie before Safin stepped in to clinch victory for Russia.

In the semis Russia will again have the home advantage when they face Germany for the first time in the Davis Cup since 1999.

The 2006 Davis Cup Champion's title was Russia's second in five years, but it was its first on home soil. In 2002, the Russian team shocked French fans in Paris by winning the competition, coming back from 1-2 down after the first two days of competition.