LONDON: Britain’s last-four hopes in the Davis Cup were trampled into Italian clay in Naples.
France are also in the last four despite looking dead and buried on Friday when they lost the opening two singles matches against a weakened Germany line-up.
Wins for Jo Wilfried-Tsonga and Gael Monfils earned France a 3-2 victory in Nancy to set up a semifinal against holders Czech Republic, who breezed past Japan in Tokyo 5-0.
Switzerland pulled off a 3-2 win over Kazakhstan, as reported earlier.
Britain began on Sunday with a 2-1 lead against Italy, needing just one of two singles to reach the last four for the first time since 1981.
However, Wimbledon champion Andy Murray proved no match for an inspired Fabio Fognini, who won 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 before Andreas Seppi overcame early nerves to outclass James Ward 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 and put Italy in the semis for the first time since 1998. (AP)
