AFP - Israel reached the Davis Cup semi-finals for the first time on Saturday while 32-time champions USA kept their hopes alive of making the last four.
  
Israel stunned 2002 and 2006 champions Russia in Tel Aviv.
  
They took an unassailable 3-0 lead when Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram clinched the crucial point beating Igor Kunitsyn and Marat Safin 6-3, 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 6-4.
  
Israel, who were playing in their first quarter-final since 1987, will face either defending champions Spain or Germany in September's semi-finals while Russia suffered their earliest defeat in six years.
  
In Porec, meanwhile, world number one pair Bob and Mike Bryan kept the USA alive in their quarter-final against Croatia with a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 doubles win over Roko Karanusic and Lovro Zovko.
  
Croatia still lead the tie 2-1 ahead of Sunday's reverse singles.
  
Unlike Friday's marathon singles rubbers, Saturday's doubles lasted just 68 minutes with last weekend's Wimbledon runners-up in total control.
  
"At the end it was quite an easy victory for us," said Mike Bryan.
  
On Sunday, Marin Cilic will tackle James Blake with Ivo Karlovic facing Mardy Fish.
  
The eventual winners will meet either the Czech Republic or 2008 runners-up Argentina in the last four.
  
The Czechs opened up a 2-1 lead in Prague when Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek saw off Jose Acasuso and Leonardo Mayer 6-1, 6-4, 6-3 after the two teams had shared Friday's opening singles.
  
Argentine skipper Tito Vazquez caused a surprise by opting not to choose world number five Juan Martin del Potro to play in the doubles.
  
"The decision was planned in advance so that the Czech Republic would put all their best players in the doubles," said Vazquez.
  
"We were hoping it would be a long match so we had a better chance on Sunday (in the reverse singles).
  
"Our advantage in the first of the singles is that Berdych will have played eight sets in two days while del Potro will have played only three."
  
In Marbella, Spain, playing without injured world number two Rafael Nadal, were 1-1 with Germany ahead of the doubles.