ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Yuriy Schukin and Andrey Golubev beat Radek Stepanek and Jan Hajek 7-6 (2), 6-4, 6-3 in the doubles to cut the Czech Republic's lead against Kazakhstan in the Davis Cup quarterfinals to 2-1 Saturday. The defending champion Czechs took a 2-0 lead Friday after Hajek beat Mikhail Kukushkin and Lukas Rosol downed Golubev in their opening singles matches on clay. The winner of the best-of-five series will face either France or Argentina in September. Argentina and France ended the opening day in Buenos Aires knotted at 1-1. Juan Monaco, ranked 19th in the world, cruised past 13th-ranked Gilles Simon 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-4 on the clay courts at Parque Roca to even the tie after Jo-Wilfried Tsonga gained the first point for France. Tsonga labored three hours and 53 minutes to subdue Carlos Berlocq 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-2. In Boise, Idaho, World No. 1 Novak Djokovic got 2010 champions Serbia off to a fast start against the United States, with a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2, 7-5 victory over John Isner. But American Sam Querrey dug deep for a 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over Viktor Troicki that let the hosts pull level at 1-1. The winners in Boise will take on either Canada or Italy, who were 1-1 after the first day of play in Vancouver. Andreas Seppi rallied from two sets down to beat Canadian Vasek Pospisil 5-7, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3. Milos Raonic pulled a point back for the hosts, firing 25 aces in a 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 7-5 victory over Fabio Fognini. India avoids relegation Veteran Leander Paes led from the front as India seized a decisive 3-0 lead over Indonesia Saturday to avoid relegation in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania tie. Paes, taking part in his 50th Cup tie, partnered Sanam Singh to an easy 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 win over the Indonesian pair of Elbert Sie and David Susanto in Bangalore. Aussies lead Uzbeks Former world No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt inspired Australia to a five-set doubles victory to take the edge over Uzbekistan in the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group one second round tie in Namangan Saturday. Hewitt, rested from Friday's opening singles, partnered Matthew Ebden to battle out a 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over the Uzbek pairing of Denis Istomin and Farrukh Dustov. The hard-fought win gave the 28-time Davis Cup winner Australia a 2-1 edge heading into Sunday's two reverse singles to decide the tie on clay. — Agencies
