Serbia in Davis Cup quarters, Spain face exit

Serbia and France cruised into the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Saturday as five-time champions Spain faced a humiliating first round exit.

Serbia and France cruised into the Davis Cup quarter-finals on Saturday as five-time champions Spain faced a humiliating first round exit.

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Serbia, the 2010 champions, reached the last eight for the fourth successive season when Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic defeated Steve Darcis and Ruben Bemelmans 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 to secure a 3-0 win over Belgium.

The Serbs were 2-0 up overnight in Charleroi when Troicki survived a marathon battle to beat David Goffin 1-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 6-4 before world number one and Australian Open title-holder Novak Djokovic eased past Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Serbia are likely to face the United States for a semi-final place after the 32-time champions opened a 2-0 lead over Brazil in Florida.

In Rouen, Michael Llodra and Julien Benneteau teamed up to move France into the quarter-finals as they powered past Israeli pairing Dudi Sela and Jonathan Erlich.

The French duo won 7-6 (7/3), 6-1, 6-0 in the doubles to cement an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the tie.

France had led 2-0 overnight in Arnaud Clement's debut as national coach.