(Updates with final singles match)
GOTHENBURG, Sweden, April 8 - Sweden set up a
Davis Cup semi-final against the United States when they
completed a 4-1 win over last year's runners-up Argentina on
Sunday.
Doubles specialist Jonas Bjorkman beat Sebastian Prieto 6-1
6-2 in 43 minutes in the first of Sunday's reverse singles
before teenager Juan-Martin Del Potro beat Robert Lindstedt in
straight sets to give Argentina a consolation point in their
world group quarter-final.
Bjorkman, substituting Robin Soderling, broke Prieto,
himself a replacement for David Nalbandian, twice in the first
set and three times in the second to put Sweden 4-0 up.
The 18-year-old Del Potro won an evenly-matched first set
9-7 on the tie-break, then promptly broke Lindstedt to start the
second and remained in control the rest of the way, winning 7-6
6-4. The reverse singles had been reduced to best of three sets.
Sweden had already eliminated Argentina on Saturday after
Bjorkman and Thomas Johansson beat Nalbandian and Guillermo
Canas in the doubles to give the hosts an unassailable 3-0 lead.
On Friday, Johansson upset Argentina's number one Nalbandian
in four sets, while Soderling beat Del Potro in straight sets.
Sweden will host the United States in the semi-finals from
Sept. 21 to 23. The Americans have a winning 3-0 lead in their
tie against Spain in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.