LONDON: Holders Czech Republic moved into the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup with Tomas Berdych outlasting Swiss opponent Stanislas Wawrinka a day after the pair emerged from a marathon doubles encounter.
Berdych enjoyed a comparatively easy 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 victory over Wawrinka, to give the Czechs an insurmountable 3-1 lead, a day after he and partner Lukas Rosol edged a punishing seven-hour clash with Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli 24-22 in the final set.
The Czech’s will now travel to Kazakhstan in April after the former Soviet nation wrapped up a 3-1 victory over Austria.
The Czechs came into the final day with a 2-1 advantage and Berdych took three hours and 15 minutes to wrap up a four-set win over an equally weary Wawrinka, who had defeated Rosol in the singles match on the opening day on Friday. AFP
