Spain, Russia and Argentina reach last eight March 08, 2010
Defending champions Spain proved there is life without Rafael Nadal when they swept aside Switzerland 4-1 to set-up a mouthwatering Davis Cup quarter-final clash with France on Sunday.
Russia also went through thanks to a 3-2 win over India, their 17th successive home win, which gave them a last eight clash against Argentina who defeated Sweden 3-2 in Stockholm.
Croatia, the 2005 champions, the Czech Republic, who were runners-up to Spain last season, and France had already wrapped up their quarter-final places on Saturday.
In Logrono, world number 16 David Ferrer scored the winning point for Spain as he easily saw off an exhausted Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 to give the hosts an unbeatable lead after they had led 2-1 overnight.
Nicolas Almagro then eased past Marco Chiudinelli 6-1, 6-3 in the dead rubber.
Despite his heroics, Ferrer admitted that his place in the team for July's clash with France was not guaranteed with Nadal and Fernando Verdasco expected to return.
"I hope to play and be picked, but we will see. I just want to focus on the next tournaments," said Ferrer.
France maintained their 72-year domination of Germany when they wrapped up a 4-1 win in Toulon, leaving the French eager to face Spain on home ground.
"It'll be like a final, it's the kind of thing you dream about," said France captain Guy Forget.
"Facing the defending champions with Nadal, Verdasco, Ferrer, Lopez...we want to beat the best in the world. We have started to talk about it and I hope that the boys will be in peak form."
France will have the advantage of playing the tie at home and will - not surpisingly - opt for a hard court rather than the clay courts favoured by the Spanish.
"You play tennis for moments like this, at home, in front of your own fans and against a very strong team."
In Moscow, Mikhail Youzhny eased Russia into the last eight when he beat Somdev Devvarman 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 to give his side a 3-1 lead over India.
Rohan Bopanna won the dead rubber, beating Teimuraz Gabashvili 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, to ensure a final scoreline of 3-2, after veteran doubles pairing Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi won Saturday's doubles to keep India in the tie.
"It wasn't as easy as the scoreline may suggest," Youzhny said. "It was much easier for me in the first two sets. I won many points with drop shots as he (Devvarman) was not running well."
David Nalbandian was Argentina's match-winner in Stockholm when he defeated Andreas Vinciguerra 7-5, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 in the deciding rubber after Robin Soderling had seen off Leonardo Mayer 7-5, 7-6 (7/5), 7-5 to pull Sweden level.
Former Wimbledon finalist Nalbandian, who has only just returned to action after undergoing hip surgery in May, had edged Argentina ahead on Saturday when he teamed with Horacio Zeballos to see off Robert Lindstedt and Soderling in the doubles.
In Belgrade, Bob Bryan and John Isner kept the US in their tie on Saturday when they defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Janko Tipsarevic to leave Serbia 2-1 in front going into the final day.
Isner was facing world number two Novak Djokovic on Sunday needing a win to keep the tie alive.
The winners will face Croatia, who defeated Ecuador, for a place in the semi-finals.
The Czech Republic saw off Belgium in Bree and will face either Chile or Israel. Chile were 2-0 ahead after Saturday's opening singles.
News on
RSS 
