For one set, the United States could entertain the tantalizing thought of a big upset in Davis Cup tennis.
But Sam Querrey's lead over top-ranked Rafael Nadal evaporated, and Spain, playing on its beloved clay before a crowd of some 16,000 in a bullfighting arena at Madrid, took a 2-0 lead Friday in the best-of-five semifinal series.
Nadal dropped the first set but recovered to win, 6-7 (5), 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, over an opponent making his Davis Cup debut and filling in for James Blake.
"It was very difficult for me to return balls and control points," Nadal said. "Maybe with the altitude it made it a little bit easier for him."
Spain's David Ferrer then defeated Andy Roddick, 7-6 (5), 2-6, 1-6, 6-4, 8-6. Spain hasn't lost a clay-court Davis Cup series in nine years. It can secure its sixth Davis Cup final appearance in doubles today when Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez face Mike Bryan and Mardy Fish.
The winner will play the winner of the Argentina-Russia semifinal for the title. Argentina leads that series, 2-0, at home.
ifth-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova defeated top-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 2-6, 7-5, 7-5, in the Pan Pacific Open quarterfinals at Tokyo, ending the Serb's hopes of a swift return to the top of the rankings ahead of Serena Williams.
COLLEGE FOOTBALL
Kansas State dismisses running back Patton
Kansas State running back Leon Patton was dismissed from the team after being arrested on suspicion of child abuse. The 20-year-old junior was accused of shaking a 2-month-old boy "feloniously and intentionally," police in Manhattan, Kan., said. Patton was jailed on $30,000 bond for his July 15 actions. Police would not provide information on the now-4-month-old boy's whereabouts or condition.
Donald Brown ran for 150 yards and two touchdowns and Connecticut (4-0) held off Baylor, 31-28, at East Hartford, Conn. Baylor freshman quarterback Robert Griffin drove the Bears (3-1) to the Connecticut 39-yard line with less than a minute to play before his fourth-down pass fell incomplete.
The NCAA has determined that Auburn did not commit academic fraud in allowing athletes in football and other sports to take courses that required little or no time in the classroom.
PRO BASKETBALL
Celtics' Miles given a 10-day suspension
Boston Celtics forward Darius Miles has been suspended without pay for 10 games for violating the terms of the anti-drug program at the end of the 2007-08 season. Miles' suspension will begin with the first game of the 2008-09 regular season for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
