Bryans win, US live to fight another day

Mike and Bob Bryan continued to be America's most reliable Davis Cup formula as the brothers won their doubles point to trim Spain's lead in their semifinal to 2-1 on Saturday. The twins were stretched by Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory in which Granollers was hampered by a left calf injury picked up in the second set.

Granollers stayed in the match but Spain lost momentum and mobility as the Bryans kept alive the visitors' chances of reaching November's final in front of a near capacity 15,000 spectators at the purpose-built venue in the Asturian coastal city. "We came here to get a win, we kept the team alive. It wasn't pretty all the time but a win's a win and we're happy with that," Bob Bryan said after the win.

David Ferrer can clinch Spain's fourth trip to the final in five years on Sunday when he faces John Isner in reverse singles, with the fifth-ranked Spaniard 15-0 on clay in the competition. The defending champions have won all previous 37 ties when they have swept the opening singles. The U.S. has only once recovered from a 0-2 deficit -- in 1934 -- but its record improves when down 1-2, having done it five times. Should Isner beat the fifth-ranked Ferrer, Sam Querrey and Nicolas Almagro are scheduled to play for the final singles point.

Czech take lead

Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek put Czech Republic 2-1 up against Argentina with victory in the Davis Cup doubles in their semi-final on clay at Parque Roca on Saturday. The Czech pair beat Eduardo Schwank and Carlos Berlocq 6-3 6-4 6-3 in two hours 37 minutes. Berdych can now secure victory for the visitors in Sunday's opening singles by beating Juan Martin del Potro. Stepanek is scheduled to meet Juan Monaco in the final rubber.

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