Germany coasted into the Fed Cup semi-finals on Sunday, joining Australia and with holders Italy on the verge of following suit.
The Italians are well in command of their tie with the United States, leading 2-0 overnight in Cleveland.
Rain in Seville forced the completion of the other tie between Spain and the Czech Republic to be held over until Monday, with the hosts annexing the only rubber to have been completed on Saturday.
In Hobart, Australia ensured their place in the next round for the first time in 21 years with a crushing Samantha Stosur-inspired 4-0 defeat of Russia.
The 2011 US Open champion added to her Saturday singles win when seeing off Fed Cup newcomer Victoria Kan 6-2 6-3 in Sunday’s opening rubber to secure an unassailable 3-0 lead.
Ashleigh Barty and Casey Dellacqua sealed a clean sweep over the Russians with an emphatic 6-1 6-3 doubles win over Irina Khromacheva and Valeria Solovyeva.
“We’re still in it, so we have a chance to win it,” Stosur said of Australia’s prospects of claiming the title for the first time since 1974.
First though they will have to overcome Germany, waiting for them in the semis.
The Germans, who were last crowned champions in 1992, qualified after Angelique Kerber defeated Slovakia’s Australian Open runner-up Dominika Cibulkova 6-3 7-6 (7-5) in the first of the reverse singles in Bratislava.
Kerber was supplying her team with their second point having defeated Daniela Hantuchova 7-6 (11-9) 6-1 in the second of Saturday’s two singles, after Andrea Petkovic had saved a match point en route to a 1-6 7-6 (9-7) 6-2 win over Cibulkova.
“I had so much emotion from the team,” Kerber said.
“It was tough, so I was just trying to play point-by-point. I think I played well, I moved well, I mixed it up well, sometimes aggressive, sometimes defensive, and I’m so happy that we’re now through.”
This is the first time Germany have graced the last four since 1995.
Weather permitting the delayed tie in Seville will resume on Sunday with the second rubber between Spain’s Maria-Teresa Torro-Flor and Czech player Klara Zakopalova.
The winner of this will face either Italy or the USA in the April 19-20 semi-finals.
