Rafael Nadal of Spain attends a training session at country club Las Salinas in Vina del Mar city, Santiago, Saturday. — Reuters LONDON — France and Serbia both sealed quickfire victories to reach the Davis Cup quarterfinals but top seeds Spain were hanging on by their fingernails against Canada ahead of Saturday's doubles. French duo Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra thrashed Israel's Dudi Sela and Jonathan Erlich 7-6, 6-1, 6-0 in Rouen to give France a 3-0 lead that rendered Sunday's reverse singles meaningless. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet both comfortably won their singles matches Friday. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will be spared more exertion Sunday after 2010 winner Serbia built a 3-0 lead against Belgium when Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic came through in four sets against Steve Darcis and Ruben Bemelmans. Djokovic crushed Olivier Rochus Friday on an indoor claycourt in Charleroi. France, bidding for a 10th Davis Cup title, will face either Germany or Argentina in the quarterfinals while Serbia will be waiting for either the United States or Brazil. Meanwhile, Spain was weakened by the absence of top 15 players Rafa Nadal, David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro and the Canadians, who have never won a world group tie, pounced to take advantage. Big-serving Milos Raonic was expected to bludgeon his way past Alberto Ramos and duly delivered when he sealed a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 victory over the world No. 51 with two thumping aces. Frank Dancevic, ranked 161, provided the real shock of the day, though, humbling world No. 34 Marcel Granollers 6-1 6-2 6-2 to give his country a 2-0 lead going into Saturday's doubles. Holder Czech Republic was locked at 1-1 after the first day against a Switzerland side minus world No. 2 Roger Federer — Tomas Berdych levelling the tie after Lukas Rosol had been outplayed by Stanislas Wawrinka. Germany's hopes of beating Argentina in Buenos Aires suffered a cruel blow, however, as Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced to retire with a hamstring injury when serving for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set against Carlos Berlocq. A later win for Juan Monaco over Florian Mayer meant Argentina ended the day 2-0 ahead. Croatia and Italy were locked at 1-1 in Turin while the United States took a commanding 2-0 lead over Brazil in Jacksonville after Sam Querrey dispatched Thomaz Bellucci in straight sets and John Isner thumped Thiago Alves.Paes keeps Indian hopes alive Veteran Leander Paes teamed up with debutant Purav Raja to win the doubles and keep India afloat in the Asia-Oceania Group One Davis Cup tie in New Delhi Saturday. Paes and Raja beat Lim Yong-Kyu and Nam Ji-Sung 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 to pull one back for the home team. — Agencies
