Djokovic, Nadal set to lock horns

SERBIA SET UP SHOWDOWN AGAINST SPAIN Australia, France and United States through to last-eight.

Serbia reached the Davis Cup quarterfinals on Saturday to set up a possible mouthwatering clash between Grand Slam heavyweights Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal for a semifinal spot.

Serbia, the 2010 champions, took an unassailable 3-0 lead over Russia in their World Group opener in Nis when 40-year-old Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki downed Andrey Kuznetsov and Konstantin Kravchuk 6-3, 7-6 (7/3), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4.

On Friday, Troicki beat Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8/6) in the opening singles before Djokovic made it 2-0 when Daniil Medvedev retired with cramps in the fourth set allowing the 12-time Grand Slam winner to claim a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1, 1-0 win.

Djokovic could face Nadal in the last eight in April should fivetime champions Spain see off Croatia in Osijek in their tie which was locked at 1-1 overnight.

Nadal was sitting out the trip to Croatia after reaching the Australian Open final last weekend but would be certain to return to face a Djokovic-inspired Serbia.

Australia, the 28-time champions, completed a 3-0 drubbing of the Czech Republic in Melbourne when John Peers and Sam Groth breezed past Jiri Vesely and Jan Satral, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2.

Australia, captained by Lleyton Hewitt, will now face either the United States or Switzerland in the quarterfinals on April 7-9.

The United States were 2-0 ahead of a Switzerland side missing Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka in Birmingham, Alabama, after Friday’s singles.

Nine-time champions France wrapped up a 3-0 victory against Japan. – AFP