Spain, Brazil, Australia Advance

Spain and Brazil on Sunday joined the United States and defending champion Australia in reaching the Davis Cup semifinals.

Spain defeated Russia, 4-1, and will play the U.S. next. Australia, which had clinched its victory Saturday, defeated Germany, 3-2, and will face Brazil, a 3-2 winner over Slovakia.

Alberto Costa clinched Spain’s semifinal berth with a 6-0, 6-3, 6-0 victory over Yevgeny Kafelnikov, followed by Juan Carlos Ferrero’s 6-0, 6-3 victory over Russia’s Marat Safin at Malaga, Spain.

After a five-hour rain delay, Costa, who substituted for Alex Corretja, needed fewer than 90 minutes to secure the victory. Kafelnikov, the world’s No. 3-ranked player who had teamed with Safin to win the doubles match Saturday, took only six points in the final set Sunday.

Brazil advanced when Fernando Meligeni rallied to defeat Karol Kucera, 5-7, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4, in the decisive fifth match in Rio de Janeiro.

Slovakia had tied the series when Dominik Hrbaty overpowered a weary Gustavo Kuerten, 7-5, 6-4 , 7-6 (5). “It was tough, man,” Kuerten said. “I felt tired today.”

With its semifinal berth already secured, Australia dropped its final two singles matches to Germany on Sunday.

Germany’s Rainer Schuttler defeated Lleyton Hewitt, 2-6, 6-3, 6-4, and Michael Kohlmann defeated Wayne Arthurs, 7-5, 7-6 (5).

However, Hewitt and Arthurs won their opening singles matches Friday, and Pat Rafter and Mark Woodforde took the doubles Saturday.