Chile into Davis Cup quarter-finals

Chile sealed their place in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup today as Fernando Gonzalez saw off Dudi Sela in straight sets.

Gonzalez clinched a 6-4 6-4 6-3 success in just over two hours to give the South Americans an unassailable 3-1 lead.

Chile had won the first two matches of tie, which was delayed by a day because of the massive earthquake in the country last month, with victories by Nicolas Massu and Gonzalez.

Israel yesterday gave themselves hope by winning the doubles, but an unlikely comeback proved beyond them.

Chile will host Czech Republic, last year's runner-up, in the last eight.

In the dead fifth rubber Jorge Aguilar beat Harel Levy 7-6 (7/3) 6-1 to wrap up a 4-1 victory for Chile.

Sela admitted his defeat to Massu in the first rubber of the tie was crucial.

"I should have won against Massu on Saturday," he said on www.daviscup.com.

"Things would have gone in a different way if we had been 2-1 ahead today. Facing Gonzalez when going 1-2 is very difficult."

Chilean number one Gonzalez was pleased to get through.

"The important thing was to win, whichever the way," he said.

"We are very happy with this victory, and we hope it is something to get happy about, even if it's small happiness, for all the people affected by the earthquake."

Looking ahead to the tie with the Czechs, he said: "It's going to be really tough.

"I know them very well, it's a team I respect very much and it will not be easy to face them. But if we all are well, we may beat them."

Israel gave themselves hope in their delayed match against Chile, winning the doubles.

Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram teamed up to beat Jorge Aguilar and Paul Capdeville 6-7 (7/5) 7-6 (11/9) 2-6 6-1 6-0.

However Chile's singles players, Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu, will be strongly fancied to clinch a home victory tomorrow when they face Dudi Sela and Harel Levy respectively.