Spain beat Germany 1-4 last weekend in the quarter final of the Davis Cup and next meet the USA, who beat France in North Carolina. The other semi-final will pit Russia against Argentina.

Spain and the USA have met eight times before - 5-3 to the USA - and the Americans emerged victorious the last time the two countries met, also in North Carolina, last year.

However, with Spain enjoying home advantage, American captain Patrick McEnroe has been playing down his team's chances: "We know the strength of the Spanish team, and, at home, and probably on clay, we must start as underdogs, but we'll just have to take each match as it comes."

The photo shows the moment when Spain took an unassailable 0-3 lead when Feliciano López (left) and Fernando Verdasco (right) finally clinched a thrilling 6-7, 7-6, 6-4, 2-6, 12-10 victory against Philipp Petzschner and Philipp Kohlschreiber in Saturday's doubles round.

The venue for September's semi-final has not yet been confirmed.