Slovakia and Croatia took 2-1 leads in their Davis Cup semifinals Saturday, with doubles victories leaving each country one win from a first appearance in the final.
Slovakia's Karol Beck and Michal Mertinak beat Argentina's David Nalbandian and Mariano Puerta 7-6 (5), 7-5, 7-6 (5) in Bratislava. Nalbandian is a former Wimbledon finalist and Puerta reached the French Open final this year.
"We played well as a team," Beck said. "Michal's serve was excellent and we deserved to win."
Argentina is in its third semifinal in four years and trying to reach its first final since 1981. Slovakia reached the semis for the first time after beating Spain, last year's champion, and the Netherlands. Russia is the only semifinalist to have won the Davis Cup.
In Split, Croatia, the home country took the lead when Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic defeated Russia's Igor Andreev and Dmitry Tursunov 6-2, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4.
"For the millionth time, we showed we are strong in the mind when it counts," said Ljubicic, jumping about and wrapped in a Croatian flag.
Russia captain Shamil Tarpischev led the women to the Fed Cup title last weekend and is trying to become the first person to sweep Davis Cup and Fed Cup titles in the same year.
The Davis Cup final will be Dec. 2-4.
In the playoffs, the winner remains in the elite 16-nation World Group while the loser drops to zonal play next year.
Switzerland and Chile advanced to the World Group with unbeatable 3-0 leads. The United States, Italy, Austria and Germany held 2-1 leads after Saturday's doubles.
Top-ranked Roger Federer and Yves Allegro won it for the Swiss with a 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2 win over Britain's Greg Rusedski and Andy Murray on clay in Geneva.
"This is magnificent for me," Federer said. "I haven't played at home in over a year and a half. To be playing and help Switzerland win in front of a home crowd is special."
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu beat Pakistan's Ageel Khan and Aisam Qureshi 6-1, 6-3, 6-0 in Santiago.
The U.S., in danger of being relegated from the World Group for the first time in 17 years, moved in front behind twins Bob and Mike Bryan beat Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen of Belgium on indoor red clay.
"To win the doubles at 1-1 is huge," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe said. "It gives ourselves a lot of momentum."
No. 2 ranked Rafael Nadal lost in doubles for visiting Spain. Daniele Bracciali and Giorgio Galimberti defeated Nadal and Feliciano Lopez 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 4-6, 9-7 to give Italy a 2-1 lead in a match that lasted 4 hours, 37 minutes.
"They fought like lions," Italy captain Corrado Barazzutti said. "Now the pressure is on the Spaniards."
Germany took a 2-1 lead when Tommy Haas and Alexander Waske beat Frantisek Cermak and Leos Friedl 4-6, 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 in Liberec, Czech Republic.
Austria pulled in front of Ecuador when Julian Knowle and Jurgen Melzer downed Giovanni and Nicolas Lapentti 2-6, 6-4, 6-0, 6-3.
Rain forced a suspension of the India-Sweden playoff in New Delhi. Sweden leads 1-0.
Later, Canada's Daniel Nestor and Frederic Niemeyer defeated Belarus' Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov 7-5, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6 (6) to take a 2-1 lead.