Mike and Bob Bryan continued to be America’s most reliable Davis Cup formula as the brothers won their doubles point to trim Spain’s lead in their semifinal to 2-1 yesterday.

The twins were stretched by Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez in a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5, 7-5 victory in which Granollers was hampered by a left calf injury picked up in the second set.

Granollers stayed in the match but Spain lost momentum and mobility as the Bryans kept alive the visitors’ chances of reaching November’s final in front of a near capacity 15,000 spectators at the purpose-built venue in the Asturian coastal city.

“It was a battle,” Bob Bryan said after the brothers kept the US from losing a tie for the fifth time. “We came here to get a win, we kept the team alive. It wasn’t pretty all the time but a win’s a win and we’re happy with that.”

David Ferrer can clinch Spain’s fourth trip to the final in five years today when he faces John Isner in reverse singles, with the fifth-ranked Spaniard 15-0 on clay in the competition. The defending champions have won all previous 37 ties when they have swept the opening singles.

Berdych and Stepanek beat Argentina in doubles

Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek won yesterday's doubles to give the Czech Republic a 2-1 lead against Argentina in their Davis Cup semifinal.

They defeated Eduardo Schwank and Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-4, 6-3, and put their team on the brink of returning to the final.

If Berdych doesn’t beat a hurting Juan Martin del Potro in the first reverse singles today, then Stepanek and Juan Monaco will play for the tie in the last match.

Del Porto has an injured wrist on his left non-racket hand and his status for today was unclear.

“There is nothing decided yet,” Argentina assistant captain Mariano Zabeleta said.