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Juan Carlos Ferrero beat Andreas Beck 6-4 6-4 6-4 to seal a 3-2 victory for champions Spain over Germany in their Davis Cup quarter-final in Marbella.

For reports from the other ties see the links below the picture.

Spain were in danger of suffering a first home defeat in 16 ties after Philipp Kohlschreiber repelled a stirring Fernando Verdasco fightback in the first reverse singles on the clay in Marbella to level the tie at 2-2.

But captain Albert Costa's gamble to play Ferrero in the reverse singles instead of Tommy Robredo, who lost in straight sets to Kohlschreiber on Friday, paid off as the former world number one dispatched the inexperienced Beck with relative ease.

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

Croatia host the Czech Republic in the other last-four clash after the Croats dispatched the United States in Porec and the Czechs beat last year's runners-up Argentina in Ostrava.

Former French Open champion Ferrero wobbled serving for the match at 5-2 in the third set when Beck broke his serve but the 29-year-old made no mistake the second time to send the boisterous crowd wild with delight.

"It's been a long time since I was in the team because we are blessed with such a lot of great players," said Ferrero, who last played for Spain in September 2005 and was a late replacement for the injured David Ferrer.

"Playing the last match is always hard and we suffered right down to the last point but I am over the moon."

Kohlschreiber dominated Verdasco in the opening two sets in the earlier singles but appeared to wilt in the searing heat at the adapted bullring before digging deep to close out a 6-4 6-2 1-6 2-6 8-6 victory.

Verdasco saved a match point at 5-3 down in the final set but Kohlschreiber converted his second in the 14th game with a return winner down the line to keep Germany in with a chance of a first appearance in the semi-finals since 2007.

"You have to be so ready for these matches and I've had some good Davis Cup wins," the German said. "I see it as a step forward and it's a pleasure playing for Germany."

Reuters