No Alcaraz, no problem - Spain into Davis Cup semis

Spain brushed aside the absence of Carlos Alcaraz to beat the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup quarter-finals and move one step closer to a first title in six years.

A "heartbroken" Alcaraz pulled out of Spain's squad for the Finals on Tuesday after the new world number one was advised not to compete in Bologna because of swelling in his right hamstring.

Without their talisman, the Spanish team were forced to come from behind against the Czechs after Jakub Mensik defeated Pablo Carreno Busta 7-5 6-4 in the opening singles rubber.

Jaume Munar, with his first singles win at the Davis Cup, took the tie to the deciding doubles with a 6-3 6-4 victory over US Open quarter-finalist Jiri Lehecka.

Czech captain Tomas Berdych switched Mensik in for the doubles but to no avail as he and Tomas Machac fell 7-6 (10-8) 7-6 (10-8) to Marcel Granollers and Pedro Martinez.

The Czechs were left to rue their missed opportunities in a two-hour tussle, having held a 4-1 lead and three set points in the first-set tie-break, while two further set-point chances were missed in the one in the second set.

Doubles specialist Granollers said: "We are really happy that we fought hard for all of the team. We believed and here we are in the semi-finals.

"Last year was difficult for us [exiting in the quarter-finals] but we know this competition is very difficult. We can see here how good the teams are. We have a young team but we are still alive."

Not since they last won the title in 2019 have Spain reached the last four of the Davis Cup Finals.

The six-time champions will play either Argentina or Germany in Saturday's semi-final.

Those two nations, the latter led by world number three Alexander Zverev - the highest-ranked player in action in Bologna - play later on Thursday.

Two-time defending champions Italy will play Belgium in the first semi-final on Friday.

The Italians - like Spain - are without their leading man, with Jannik Sinner, who was usurped by Alcaraz as world number one last week, opting to maximise his recovery during the sport's brief six-week off-season after triumphing at the ATP Finals on Sunday.