Ferrer's win boosts Spain into semifinals

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CASTELLON, Spain, April 8 (UPI) -- David Ferrer posted a 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 win over Jurgen Melzer Sunday, securing a Davis Cup semifinal berth for defending champion Spain.

Ferrer's three-set win handed Spain an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five tie.

Austria had stayed alive Saturday when the duo of Oliver Marach and Alexander Peya hammered out a 3-6, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (14-12) win over the Spanish tandem of Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez.

But following singles win Friday by Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro, the Sunday reverse singles win was enough to hand Spain its 23rd consecutive Davis Cup home court victory.

The Spanish squad will host the United States in the September semis.

The Americans advanced Sunday with an upset of France.