Philipp Kohlschreiber stunned Nikolay Davydenko as Germany held Russia to 1-1, while Thomas Johansson upstaged James Black as Sweden too drew parity with the US in the semifinal of the Davis Cup.
In Moscow, Russia took 1-0 lead when over Germany Igor Andreev swamped Tommy Haas 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. Andreev was in red hot form as he dropped just games in the entire duration of the match before walking away with a facile win that came in just over two hours.
Philipp Kohlschreiber then showed the typical Germany never-say-die spirit to pull the rug from under the feet of Nikolay Davydenko and his 6-7 (5-7), 6-2, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5 win over the Russian.
Kohlschreiber lost the first set but won the next two to go 2-1 up before Davydenko pocketed the fourth to force the decider. In the all-important fifth set, Kohlschreiber converted two break points to win the marathon match that lasted almost four-and-half hours.
Like Russia, the US too squandered the lead that came through Andy Roddick’s hard-earned 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (7-3), 6-3 win against Joachim Johansson. In the second singles, Thomas Johansson conceded one set before beating an erratic James Blake 6-4, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3.
