The Baseline Top 5: Davis Cup semifinals

When a berth in the final of the Davis Cup, the men’s premier international team competition, is on the line, players often rise to the occasion to put on stellar performances.

Here’s a look at five of the best ties in the penultimate stage of the event.

1. 1990 U.S. vs. Austria

Playing on the road in Austria on red clay, the U.S. entered the final rubber knotted at two wins apiece. 1989 French Open champion Michael Chang rallied from two sets down to defeat Horst Skoff to push the visiting nation through to the final.

2. 2016 Argentina vs. Great Britain

When giants of the game like Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro are involved, usually one of them is expected to play the hero. This time, though, it was one of the less-heralded players that came through as Leonardo Mayer clinched the away tie for Argentina against Daniel Evans.

3. 1995 Russia vs. Germany

Germany had a rich history in Davis Cup and in 1995 were on the verge of adding to it in the semifinals against Russia. Boris Becker and Michael Stich took the opening rubbers against Andrei Chesnokov and Yevgeny Kafelnikov, respectively, before those two rallied. Chesnokov clinched the tie with a 14-12 fifth-set win over Stich.

4. 2003 Australia vs Switzerland

After splitting the first two rubbers, Australia won the doubles to take a 2-1 lead. The first reverse singles match pit Lleyton Hewitt against Roger Federer and the Swiss stormed to a two-set lead. Hewitt won the third in a tiebreak, then captured the next two to give Australia the win.

5. 2014 Switzerland vs. Italy

More than a decade later, Federer would make the most of his semifinal opportunity by clinching the tie for Switzerland against Italy, putting the hosts through to the final for the first time in 22 years.

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