February 7, 2012  Print Email | Czechs trounce France in Davis Cup opening round
Israel beats Sweden by 3-2
Posted by Agencies at 06:14 AM GMT on Mar 09, 2009 | PARIS (AFP): France lost the opening round of the Davis for the first time in nine years yesterday, while Israel trounced Sweden and Rafael Nadal moved titleholders Spain into the quarter-finals.
Radek Stepanek sent the Czech Republic into a last eight meeting with Argentina, beating top ten player Gilles Simon, while Nadal handed out a clay lesson to Novak Djokovic to book a duel with Germany.
Israel knocked out seven-times champions Sweden 3-2, coming from behind to score a famous win as Harel Levy beat Andreas Vinciguerra in a five-setter after Dudi Sela had sent Thomas Johansson packing.
It was the perfect on-court response by the visitors after violent protests had marred the first two days of the encounter, masked demonstrators clashing with Swedish police on the sidelines of an authorised demonstration against Israel's recent offensive in Gaza. Citing security fears, Malmo city council had ordered the match played behind closed doors.
Israel, in the last eight for only the second time, will welcome Russia in the next round.
Joining the Spaniards, the Czechs and the Israelis in the last eight were Germany and Russia, who posted wins over Austria and Romania respectively. The United States, 32-time champions, also went through after Andy Roddick beat Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets to give his side an unassailable 3-1 lead in Alabama over a Swiss side missing the injured Roger Federer.
America will travel to Croatia in July's quarter-finals.
 While Nadal brought Spain a step closer to a fourth title after bludgeoning Djokovic into the Benidorm clay on Spain's east coast, nine-times champions France were left to reflect on the need to come through a relegation playoff in September.
The French, whose last title came in 2001, have not been out of the elite World Group since 1997 and Guy Forget's side went to Ostrava full of optimism.
But Saturday's doubles loss by Richard Gasquet and the experienced Michael Llodra piled the pressure onto the shoulders of world number eight Cup newcomer Simon.
Simon had already lost Friday's opener to Tomas Berdych and world number 18 Stepanek also had his measure in racking up a 7-6 (7/2), 6-3, 7-6 (7/0) win.
France stretched their winless run away to the Czechs to 83 years but National Technical Director Patrice Dominguez was adamant the squad would bounce back.
"Our confidence in the squad remains strong," Dominguez said.
"It's still there, there's a good spirit and I know one day we will win the Davis Cup with this squad."
Back in 1926, the French benefited from the skills of their 'Musketeers' Rene Lacoste, Henri Cochet and Jacques Brugnon who, joined by Jean Borotra, would pocket six Davis Cups from 1927.
Such dominance now appears the preserve of world number one Nadal, who missed last year's triumph in Argentina but won the title against the USA in 2004. On Sunday he thumped Djokovic 6-4, 6-4, 6-1.
"The clay is Spain's surface," Djokovic conceded, while Nadal observed, "This was an important win for us."
Spain now face a July quarter-final with Germany, who eclipsed Austria with Nicloas Kiefer getting the decisive third point in straight sets at the expense of Jurgen Melzer.
Russia ousted Romania away after Dmitry Tursunov produced a winning lead of 3-1 in beating Victor Hanescu 4-6, 5-7, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2.
Elsewhere, last year's finalists Argentina completed a 5-0 win over a hapless Dutch team in Buenos Aires while Croatia landed a whitewash of Chile.
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