Davis Cup World Group Results

Spain at Slovak Republic (Slovaks win 3-0)
Surface: Hard indoors

Karol Beck/Michal Mertinak (SVK) d. Al Costa/Rafael Nadal (ESP) 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6(8)

Dancing in the streets as the Slovaks ambush the defending champion Spaniards, with Beck and the virtual unknown Mertinak delivering the final blow. The missing Carlos Moya, the injured Juan Carlos Ferrero and Tommy Robredo, and Spanish captain Jordi Arrese's decision to keep the hot-handed Nadal out of the opening-day singles combine to aid the upset.

"The surface is not an excuse for us," Arrese said. "Of course it is disappointing to lose in the first round especially if you are a titleholder. But that is sport. Now we have to put our forces together to stay in the World Group (in the qualifying round)."

Netherlands at Switzerland (Dutch lead 2-1)
Surface: Hard indoors

Yves Allegro and George Bastl keep the Roger Federer-less Swiss in the tie with a memorable comeback from 0-2 sets down, saving three match points to defeat Dutchmen Dennis van Scheppingen (a late replacement for the ailing "Everybody Loves" Raemon Sluiter) and Peter "Nuclear" Wessels 5-7, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5, 9-7.

Scheduled for Sunday is Dutch veteran Sjeng Schalken looking to end it versus Swiss hope Stanislas Wawrinka, and Wessels versus Marco "Chud" Chiudinelli.

Austria at Australia (Australia wins 3-0)
Surface: Grass

Todd Woodbridge and Wayne Arthurs clinch for the Aussies after a struggle with wind and rain delays, defeating Austria's Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer and Julian Knowle 4-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-5.

Czech Republic at Argentina (Gauchos win 3-0)
Surface: Clay outdoors

David Nalbandian and Guillermo Canas clinch for Argentina in the doubles, defeating Czechs Tomas Zib and Jan Hernych, who struggled in the heat on the slow red dirt 6-3, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.

Chile at Russia (Russia leads 2-1)
Surface: Carpet indoors

Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny put Russia in the lead, substituting for the previously-announced team of Nikolay Davydenko and Igor Andreev, pummeling Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez and Adrian Garcia 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 for the doubles point.

"I was planning to bring in Nikolay both in Friday's singles match against Gonzalez and today's doubles clash but his injury forced me to use Youzhny in both matches," revealed Russian captain Shamil Tarpishchev. "However, everything is going to plan so far and I believe we will qualify on Sunday."

Sunday's scheduled line-up is Safin vs. Gonzalez, and Youzhny vs. Garcia.

Sweden at France (France leads 2-1)
Surface: Clay indoors

The home team gained the advantage Saturday when France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra defeated Jonas Bjorkman and Simon Aspelin of Sweden 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-4 to put the French up 2-1. Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson will try and keep Sweden in it Sunday as the first scheduled match against Sebastien Grosjean, with the second match featuring Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu versus Thomas Johansson.

Belarus at Romania (Belarus leads 2-1)
Surface: Clay indoors

Max "The Beast" Mirnyi and Vladimir "The Vladiator" Voltchkov set Belarus up for the red-clay upset Saturday, defeating Romania's Andrei Pavel and Gabriel Trifu 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-4 to give Belarus a 2-1 lead. Scheduled for the deciding Sunday singles are Romania's Victor Hanescu vs. The Vladiator, and Pavel vs. The Beast.

Croatia at USA (Croatia leads 2-1)
Surface: Hard outdoors

Croats Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic and Ivan Ljubicic end the Bryan brothers perfect Davis Cup doubles record with a 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4, 6-4 win. The homecourt U.S., with its back against the wall, will need to win two on Sunday when Andy Roddick faces Ljubicic, and in the potential decider, Andre Agassi squares off against Baby Goran.