Baghdatis win confirms Ireland's exit

Marcos Baghdatis beat Conor Niland in four sets to seal an overall 3-1 victory for Cyprus in the Euro Africa Zone Group 2 Davis Cup match in Nicosia.

In the final rubber, Colin O'Brien won his game in two sets 7-6, 6-3.

Elsewhere, Argentina were dumped out of the Davis Cup in the quarter-finals following a 3-2 defeat by the Czech Republic.

Juan Martin del Potro had ensured the tie would go down to the wire by beating Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 6-4 to level the match at 2-2.

However, Radek Stepanek condemned the 2008 runners-up to an early exit with a 7-6 6-3 6-2 win over Juan Monaco.

The Czechs will face Croatia in the semi-finals in September as they knocked out the US.

The Americans, champions a record 32 times, had to win both Sunday's reverse singles to reach the last four but Marin Cilic made sure that the Croatians wrapped up the tie with a 6-3 6-3 4-6 6-2 win over James Blake.

Juan Carlos Ferrero came to Spain's rescue to beat Andreas Beck of Germany 6-4 6-4 6-4 and clinch a 3-2 victory for the champions in their quarter-final.

Spain, who were without injured world number two Rafael Nadal, will again have home advantage in the semi-final against surprise package Israel, who stunned Russia to qualify for the last four of the Davis Cup for the first time.