The Davis Cup returned on Saturday for the World Group doubles matches, leading three teams to advance to the quarterfinals in April.
Kazakhstan squared off against Austria during its third match in the first round of the tournament. The Austrian team, made up of Julian Knowle and Alexander Peya (24 Doubles), defeated the Kazakhstan team of Andrey Golubev and Yurly Schukin in three hard-fought sets, 7-6(5), 6-3 and 7-6(3). The winners of the matchup are scheduled to confront the winners of the Switzerland-Czech Republic matchup for the quarterfinals.
Switzerland and the Czech Republic headed off next, each hoping to break the 1-1 tie from Day 1 of the tournament. The teams battled it out during a long 7 hour game that ultimately gave the Czech Republic a one point advantage over Switzerland. Czech players Tomas Berdych (6) and Lukas Rosol defeated Swiss players Marco Chiudinelli and Stanislas Wawrinka (17) in five sets, 6-4, 5-7,6-4, 6(3)-7 and 24-22.
France and Israel played next, which resulted in the first quarterfinalist-France. French doubles partners Julien Benneteau (38) and Michael Llodra faced off against Israeli doubles partners Jonathan Erlich (48) and Dudi Sela, beating them in three sets 7-6(3), 6-1 and 6-0. The third consecutive win for France allowed them to advance to the quarterfinals round to play against the winners of the Germany-Argentina matchup.
Germany played against Argentina later in the morning as it tried to break Argentina's 2-0 win on Day 1 of the Davis Cup. However, Argentina came out victorious, thus moving on to the quarterfinals to face off against France. Argentines David Nalbandian and Horacio Zeballos defeated Germans Christopher Kas and Tobias Kamke in four short sets, 6-1, 6-4, 5-7 and 6-2. Argentina and France will play each other during the quarterfinals in April.
Italy and Croatia played next, each trying to break the 1-1 tie achieved during the first day of the tournament on Friday. Italians Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini (44) defeated Croatians Marin Cilic (13) and Ivan Dodig in four sets, 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 and 7-6(11), for the one point advantage. The winners of the matchup will go against the winners of Spain-Canada matchup for the quarterfinals.
Spain and Canada played later in the afternoon as Spain worked to break Canada's 2-0 streak during Day 1. Spaniards Marcel Granollers (34) and Marc Lopez (3 Doubles) defeated Canadians Daniel Nestor (4 Doubles) and Vasek Pospisil in five sets, 4-6, 6-4,6(4)-7, 6-3 and 6-2, for their first point in the tournament. The two teams, which face off in the final two singles games on Sunday, will play against the winners of the Italy-Croatia matchup during the quarterfinals in April.
Serbia and Belgium battled it out early in the morning, leading to Day 2 third quarterfinalist, Serbia. Serbian doubles partners Viktor Troicki (39) and Nenad Zimonjic (22 Doubles) defeated Belgian doubles partners Ruben Bemelmans and Steve Darcis in four short sets, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 and 6-4, thus securing their spot in the quarterfinals. Serbia will play against the winners of the USA-Brazil matchup for the quarterfinals.
Team USA played against Brazil hoping to secure their spot in the quarterfinals but came up short against the Brazilian doubles team. Bryan brothers Mike (1 Doubles) and Bob (2 Doubles) from the US lost to Brazilian doubles partners Marcelo Melo (16 Doubles) and Bruno Soares (19 Doubles) in five hard-fought sets, 6(6)-7, 7-6(7), 4-6, 6-3 and 3-6, ultimately losing the match. The winners of the first round will play against Serbia during the quarterfinals in the spring.
The teams confront each other for the last two singles matches in the first round of the Davis Cup on Sunday. The quarterfinals will be held on April 5-7. Watch the day's matches live here.
Day 2 Recaps | Day 3 Schedules
Spain 1 - Canada 2 | Next match: Sunday at 11 a.m. EST
Croatia 1 - Italy 2 | Next match: Sunday at 8 a.m. EST
Serbia 3 - Belgium 0 | Next match: Sunday at 8 a.m. EST
USA 2 - Brazil 1 | Next match: Sunday at 12 p.m. EST
Israel 0 - France 3 | Next match: Sunday at 7 a.m. EST
Germany 0 - Argentina 3 | Next match: Sunday at 9 a.m. EST
Austria 1 - Kazakhstan 2 | Last match: Sunday at 3 a.m. EST (Match 5 not played)
Switzerland 1 - Czech Republic 2 | Next match: Sunday at 6:30 a.m. EST
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