Croatia became the first defending champions in two years to survive the first round of the Davis Cup after opening up a 3-0 lead over Austria, reports BBC. Croatia will host Argentina, who have an unassailable 3-0 lead over Sweden, in April's quarter-finals. In other matches, Russia swept Holland to set up a quarter-final match with France, who eased past Germany. Belarus are through against Spain and will play Australia or Switzerland, whose match is poised at 2-1. In California, the United States have taken a 2-1 lead over Romania after Victor Hanescu and Horia-Vlad Tecau retired after losing the first set 6-2 to Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan. Hanescu was the one who pulled out, complaining of an injury to his left side. He is due to take on Andy Roddick in Sunday's reverse singles but if he does not make it, Tecau or Razvan Sabau will take his place. Chile will play either America or Romania after they took an unassailable 3-0 lead over 2005 runners-up Slovakia. They sealed their place in the last eight when Fernando Gonzalez and Nicolas Massu defeated Michal Mertinak and Lukas Lacko 6-2 7-5 3-6 6-4 in a game that lasted over three hours. Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic and Mario Ancic rallied from 2-0 down to defeat Jurgen Melzer and Julian Knowle 3-6 3-6 6-4 6-4 8-6 in Graz. It meant Croatia did not follow former champions Australia and Spain in losing their opening tie after winning the title. In Buenos Aires, the Argentine pair of David Nalbandian and Agustin Calleri beat Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin 6-2 7-6 (4) 2-6 6-4. In Amsterdam, Russia's Igor Andreev and Mikhail Youzhny beat Raemon Sluiter and John Van Lottum 6-2 3-6 6-4 6-4. Youzhny was a late choice after Russia's top-ranked Davydenko decided to rest for the reverse singles. The French pair of Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement beat Alexander Waske and Tommy Haas 6-7 (6) 6-4 6-4 6-1 in Halle, Germany. And in Minsk, Belarus' Max Mirnyi and Vladimir Voltchkov defeated Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (2) 6-4 7-5. The win extended Belarus' unbeaten streak at home to 10 ties since 1995. Meanwhile, in Geneva, Wayne Arthurs and Paul Hanley beat Stanislas Wawrinka and Yves Allegro 7-6 (6) 6-4 4-6 7-6 (5) to lead going into Sunday's reverse singles.
|