Bryan brothers lead US into QFs

Holders United States cruised to a winning 3-0 lead over Austria to reach the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup following a short exhibition of ruthless and often scintillating doubles play by the Bryan brothers yesterday.

The Americans were unhappy about the state of the hastily laid indoor clay court at the Dusika Stadion but the world number one pair Mike and Bob Bryan could have played on a cowfield and still outclassed Juergen Melzer and Julian Knowle.

In the end, their 99-minute 6-1 6-4 6-2 demolition was a fair reflection in the gap in class between the under-powered Austrian pair and a fraternal partnership who have won all four grand slams at least once.

The win left the Bryans with a record of only one Davis Cup defeat in 15 doubles rubbers.

Djokovic inspiration

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic shrugged off flu-like symptoms to rescue Serbia's hopes against Russia.

Djokovic, playing his first match since winning his maiden grand slam title in Melbourne last month, joined forces with Nenad Zimonjic to thrash Russians Mikhail Youzhny and Dmitry Tursunov 6-3 7-6 7-6 in the doubles of their first-round tie.

The win kept alive Serbia's chances to pull off a near impossible comeback in the three-day World Group tie at Moscow's Luzhniki arena after the Russians had won both of their singles matches on Friday.

World Group results

Russia vs Serbia 2-1; Czech Republic vs Belgium 3-0; Argen-tina vs Great Britain 3-0; Israel vs Sweden 2-1; Germany vs South Korea 2-1; Romania vs France 0-3; Austria vs United States 0-3; Peru vs Spain 0-2.