“All the things he would have had to cover up, just logistically — how did he manage to do it? He must constantly be changing phones to cover up his tracks.” From one playa to another — big ups! Whoot Whoot! “I experienced basically the same thing,” Becker said, “and can sympathize with him.”

Federer has historically let the Swiss squad flounder in World Group play, then swooped in to save them from falling out of the World Group Qualifying, as he did this month. Now with a strong No. 2 player in Stan Wawrinka, Federer could have the impetus to attempt to capture his first Davis Cup for Switzerland in 2010.

Spain, without injured Top 10 players Rafael Nadal or Fernando “Hot Sauce” Verdasco, topped Israel 3-0. In the Saturday doubles, Feliciano “F-Lo” Lopez and Tommy Robredo beat Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-2.

“It feels great to be in the semis but not satisfied because we’d like more,” Stepanek said. “We prepared as much as we could and we are looking forward to the tie. Playing Karlovic is always strange and tricky, you get no rhythm. You have few chances and you have to try and take them once they come because there are not many. There will not be much rallies so it’s important to focus all the time.”

Israel had clinched by Saturday after Harel Levy defeated Igor Andreev and Dudi Sela decimated Mikhail Youzhny in the singles, and the standout doubles tandem of Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram edged Igor Kunitsyn and former No. 1 Marat Safin in five in Safin’s final Davis Cup appearance.

Israel clinched the tie in the Saturday doubles when Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram stopped a comeback from former No. 1 Marat Safin and Igor Kunitsyn 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(3), 4-6, 6-4.

Can “Dr.” Ivo rain down the aces on clay? The nod goes to Croatia as Blake is 0-4 in live ties on clay and Fish has only one win in the same situation. Marin Cilic should dictate this tie, but the Bryan brothers will do their best to keep it a live tie by Sunday.

Blake is 1-4 on clay in live-rubber Davis Cup singles matches during his career.

“In my opinion there is no danger that the tournament will be pulled,” McLoughlin says.

Watch the Tennis Channel with your laptop handy, and your browser pointed at Tennis-X.com as the U.S. Davis Cup team hosts Switzerland in Birmingham, Ala. The Friday, Saturday, and Sunday matches will be live, and Tennis-X will have one of its blog personalities blog-inating live from inside the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex Arena amidst the 16,000 [...]