Spain, Russia book Davis Cup quarter-final berths

Paris: Defending champions Spain booked a showdown with France as Russia also eased into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup World Group on Sunday.

Croatia, the 2005 champions, and the Czech Republic had already assured their places in the last eight on Saturday. In Logrono, world number 16 David Ferrer scored the winning point for Spain as he easily saw off Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2, 6-4, 6-0 to give the hosts an unbeatable 3-1 lead over Switzerland. Mikhail Youzhny eased Russia into the last eight in Moscow when he beat Somdev Devvarman of India in straight sets. France maintained their 72-year domination of Germany when Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau defeated Philipp Kohlschreiber and Christopher Kas 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in Toulon on Saturday. Germany got a point back on Sunday when Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire with Simon Greul leading 4-6, 6-2, 1-0. Spain’s bid for a third straight title had gotten off to a poor start when Wawrinka beat Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 in the opening rubber on Friday in a tie missing superstars Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. Ferrer brought Spain level with a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-1 straight sets win over Marco Chiudinelli, ranked 56, in the second rubber. Marcel Granollers and Tommy Robredo gave Spain the advantage on Saturday beating Yves Allegro and Wawrinka 7-6 (10/8), 6-2, 4-6, 6-4. In Moscow, the 27-year-old Youzhny won 6-2, 6-1, 6-3 in one hour 54 minutes on Sunday in what was his first ever meeting with Devvarman, who is 128th in the ATP rankings. Rohan Bopanna won the final 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 Bhupati 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. “But in the third I got a bit tired and made too many mistakes. Luckily everything ended well for us.” In July’s quarter-finals Russia will take on either Argentina or Sweden. Bureau Report