03-09-2009, 12:51 PM
Defending champions Spain ensured their place in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup at the expense of Serbia.
Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first day's play in Benidorm, in a tie that was held up for 24 hours due to stormy weather, Rafael Nadal overcame Novak Djokovic in the fourth rubber to give the Spanish an unassailable lead.
The world number one was in ruthless mood as he stormed to a 6-4 6-4 6-1 victory over Djokovic in just under two-and-a-half hours, during which he forced six breaks of serve.
In contrast, world number three Djokovic managed just a single break - in the opening set - as he once again struggled to match Nadal on clay.
David Ferrer then completed a 4-1 success for Spain in the afternoon, routing Viktor Troicki 6-0 6-3 in just 54 minutes in the final singles match.
Russia joined Spain in the last eight when they claimed a 3-1 lead over Romania in Sibiu.
Although the hosts had given themselves a lifeline with victory in yesterday's doubles, Dmitry Tursunov battled back from two sets down to beat Victor Hanescu 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the fourth rubber and send the Russians through.
Germany also opened up a 3-1 advantage over neighbours Austria to ensure a safe passage into the last eight for the third year in succession.
Nicolas Kiefer was the hero for the Germans in the fourth rubber, with three breaks helping the world number 33 record a 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 6-4 success over Jurgen Melzer.
Radek Stepanek enjoyed a straight-sets victory over Gilles Simon to steer the Czech Republic through to the quarter-finals at the expense of France.
Stepanek dominated two tie-breaks to see off the world number eight 7-6 (7/2) 6-3 7-6 (7/0) in the first singles match of the day.
Croatia completed a 5-0 whitewash over Chile today as Roko Karanusic claimed a 7-5 6-3 win over Guillermo Hormazabal before Ivo Karlovic beat Hans Podlipnik-Castillo 6-3 7-6 (7/4).
Victory for Mario Ancic and Marin Cilic in yesterday's doubles had already seen the 2005 champions through in Poric.
Holding a 2-1 advantage from the first day's play in Benidorm, in a tie that was held up for 24 hours due to stormy weather, Rafael Nadal overcame Novak Djokovic in the fourth rubber to give the Spanish an unassailable lead.
The world number one was in ruthless mood as he stormed to a 6-4 6-4 6-1 victory over Djokovic in just under two-and-a-half hours, during which he forced six breaks of serve.
In contrast, world number three Djokovic managed just a single break - in the opening set - as he once again struggled to match Nadal on clay.
David Ferrer then completed a 4-1 success for Spain in the afternoon, routing Viktor Troicki 6-0 6-3 in just 54 minutes in the final singles match.
Russia joined Spain in the last eight when they claimed a 3-1 lead over Romania in Sibiu.
Although the hosts had given themselves a lifeline with victory in yesterday's doubles, Dmitry Tursunov battled back from two sets down to beat Victor Hanescu 4-6 5-7 6-3 6-4 6-2 in the fourth rubber and send the Russians through.
Germany also opened up a 3-1 advantage over neighbours Austria to ensure a safe passage into the last eight for the third year in succession.
Nicolas Kiefer was the hero for the Germans in the fourth rubber, with three breaks helping the world number 33 record a 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 6-4 success over Jurgen Melzer.
Radek Stepanek enjoyed a straight-sets victory over Gilles Simon to steer the Czech Republic through to the quarter-finals at the expense of France.
Stepanek dominated two tie-breaks to see off the world number eight 7-6 (7/2) 6-3 7-6 (7/0) in the first singles match of the day.
Croatia completed a 5-0 whitewash over Chile today as Roko Karanusic claimed a 7-5 6-3 win over Guillermo Hormazabal before Ivo Karlovic beat Hans Podlipnik-Castillo 6-3 7-6 (7/4).
Victory for Mario Ancic and Marin Cilic in yesterday's doubles had already seen the 2005 champions through in Poric.