Davis Cup Roundup: Austria beats Russia to reach quarterfinals

WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria (AP) -- Jurgen Melzer eased past Alex Bogomolov Jr. of Russia 6-2, 6-4, 6-1 Sunday to help Austria reach the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup for the first time since 1995.

Melzer's victory gave Austria an insurmountable 3-1 lead and set up a quarterfinal tie against defending champion Spain in April.

Two-time champion Russia lost its opening series for a second straight year.

On Friday, Melzer won Austria's first point against Igor Kunitsyn and Bogolomov made his Davis Cup debut but lost to Andreas Haider-Maurer. Russia won Saturday's doubles.

Haider-Maurer and Kunitsyn were to play the meaningless final singles match later Sunday.

Defending champion Spain sweeps Kazakhstan 5-0

OVIEDO, Spain (AP) -- Nicolas Almagro and Marcel Granollers won Sunday's reverse singles matches to complete a 5-0, first-round sweep for defending Davis Cup champion Spain against Kazakhstan.

Almagro opened by beating Evgeny Korolov 6-3, 6-4. Granollers then defeated Andrey Golubev 6-3, 6-7 (2), 6-3.

Both teams made changes after Spain clinched best-of-five series victory in Saturday's doubles. Korolev replaced Mikhail Kukushkin while Granollers stepped in for Juan Carlos Ferrero.

Spain will host Austria in the quarterfinals April 6-8. Kazakhstan must compete in a September playoff to keep its place in the World Group.

Serbia beats Sweden, advances to play Czech Republic

NIS, Serbia (AP) -- Janko Tipsarevic beat Michael Ryderstedt of Sweden in straight sets Sunday to send Serbia to the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the Czech Republic.

Tipsarevic won 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5 to give Serbia an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series on an indoor hard court in the central Serbian town of Nis.

The Serbians won the two opening singles matches, but Swedes Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt beat Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles.

Serbia played without top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is resting after winning the Australian Open.

Czechs eliminate Italy 4-1

OSTRAVA, Czech Republic (AP) -- Simone Bolelli defeated substitute Frantisek Cermak 6-4, 6-4 for Italy's lone consolation win against the Czech Republic in the first round of the Davis Cup on Sunday.

The Czechs won the best-of-five series 4-1 and will host Serbia in the quarterfinals in April. Italy needs to win a playoff to stay in the World Group.

The Czechs already earned a spot in the quarters following their victories in the opening singles and the doubles and rested their top players - Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek in the reverse singles.

Earlier Sunday, Lukas Rosol came from a set down to upset Andreas Seppi for the Czech Republic to stretch its lead to 4-0.

Berdych and Stepanek defeated Daniele Braccialli and Potito Starace 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in Saturday's doubles.

Argentina ousts Germany 4-1

BAMBERG, Germany (AP) -- Cedrik-Marcel Stebe salvaged some pride for Germany, beating Eduardo Schwank 7-6 (1), 7-5 Sunday in a consolation win against Argentina in the first round of the Davis Cup.

Argentina won the best-of-five series 4-1 and will play Croatia in the quarterfinals in April. Germany faces a playoff to stay in the World Group.

Earlier Sunday, Juan Ignacio Chela defeated Florian Mayer 7-5, 7-5 to stretch Argentina's lead to 4-0.

The visitors clinched their place in the quarters Saturday when Schwank and David Nalbandian rallied from two sets down to beat Tommy Haas and Philipp Petzschner 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to decide the series.

Argentina was the runner-up last year to Spain and is seeking its first title after losing four finals. Germany has won three titles.

Croatia defeats host Japan 3-2 to make quarterfinals

HYOGO, Japan (AP) -- Big-serving Ivo Karlovic beat Go Soeda 7-6 (4), 6-1, 6-4 Sunday, sending Croatia past Japan 3-2 and into the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup.

Kei Nishikori defeated Ivan Dodig 7-5, 7-6 (4), 6-3 in the day's first reverse singles to pull the host nation even in the best-of-five. first-round series. But Soeda was overpowered by Karlovic, who had 17 aces.

Croatia advances to the quarterfinals in April while Japan goes to a promotion/relegation playoff in September. Japan was playing in the World Group for the first time in 26 years after beating India 4-1 in a regional playoff in September. Croatia is seventh in the Davis Cup rankings, 10 places ahead of Japan.

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