From the Davis Cup site:
Israel wins epic tie to claim World Group spot
Dudi Sela was Israel's hero again as he defeated Fernando Gonzalez 46 76(5) 57 76(7) 63 in a nailbiting contest lasting one minute over five hours, to give Isarel an unassailable 3-1 lead in this Davis Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Play-off tie against Chile.
That means that Israel will line up in the World Group in 2008 for the first time since 1994- and the nation's women will also be in Fed Cup by BNP Paribas World Group I next year.
Sela, ranked 105, produced an astonishing upset in defeating world No. 6 Fernando Gonzalez on Sunday. It was another extraordinary event in a World Group tie that saw a dramatic first day end level at 1-1, followed by an epic doubles on Saturday that Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram edged 10-8 in the fifth set over Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu. It was a weekend that proved again that Davis Cup has its own rules.
Gonzalez began solidly
Knowing that he had to win the match against Sela to keep alive Chile’s hopes of retaining World Group status, Gonzalez began in solid fashion and one break in the seventh game was enough to take the first set 6-4.
The second set was a see-saw affair and although Gonzalez was the first to break to go up 3-0, Sela broke back in the sixth game. He took the set to a tiebreaker, in which he was the better player and took it 7-3.
Gonzalez was dominant in the third set and a break at 5-all eventually gave him the set 7-5. There were no breaks in the fourth set, so another tiebreak loomed. Sela held on by his fingernails to take it 8-6 and so force a fifth set.
At this stage, Sela looked much the fresher and one break of Gonzalez’s serve at 3-2 was enough. Sela won the fifth set 63 to spark wild celebrations at Israel’s advance to the World Group for the first time since 1994.
Sela overcome by emotion
Sela couldn’t find the words to describe his emotions and said through tears: “It’s an amazing feeling. There’s nothing I can say to describe it in words. This is definitely the happiest day of my life.
“We made an amazing achievement, for the tennis in Israel and for the all nation. I just want to get some rest now. I can't breathe.”
Israel captain Eyal Ran summarised the atmosphere in one sentence by saying:
“There is one king in Israel at this moment and his name is Dudi Sela.:awww:
"It’s amazing. We beat one of the top teams in the world but we believed for all the way that it is possible.”
Gonzalez said: ”I was sure that we wiould win this one. Even when we were at 1-2 down I thought that we can come back. But I have to give the respect to the Israeli team that made a terrific job and left me dumbfounded.
“Sela is a great player and it’s a real mystery that he is 105 at the world ranking. He should be top 50.”
Paul Capdeville defeated Noam Okun 21 ret. in the dead fifth rubber to leave the final score Israel 3 Chile 2.
Israel: A World Group nation without a top 100 singles player
2008 will mark the first time since 1994 that Israel will play in the World Group, and it’s rare for a World Group nation not to have any top 100 players.
Chile meanwhile must face life in Americas Zone Group I, but with their talented team, few would bet against them having a shot at getting back into the World Group in the Play-offs this time next year.