Czechs Win Epic Doubles Match; Melo/Soares Stun Bryans

© Getty ImagesHoracio Zeballos and David Nalbandian clinched a quarter-final berth for Argentina.

ATPWorldTour.com reviews Saturday's play in the Davis Cup World Group first-round ties.

SWITZERLAND 1, CZECH REPUBLIC 2
Hard - Indoor; Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland

In the longest match ever in Davis Cup history, Tomas Berdych and Lukas Rosol defeated Marco Chiudinelli and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, 6-7(3), 24-22 in seven hours and one minute to give Czech Republic a 2-1 lead over Switzerland. Berdych and Rosol converted their 13th match point to end a fifth set that had lasted three hours and 35 minutes alone. It was the longest fifth set in terms of games in Davis Cup history.

“I have never played tennis that long,” said Berdych. “I like it because I now have a new experience but we still need one more point, so let’s go again Sunday.”

Berdych, Rosol and Wawrinka had all played singles matches on Friday and Berdych and Wawrinka are scheduled to return to the court at midday GMT on Sunday to contest the first of the reverse singles. Czech Republic is attempting to avoid becoming the first team since Spain in 2005 to lose in the first round having won the competition the previous year.

ARGENTINA 3, GERMANY 0
Clay - Outdoor; Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Argentina earned an unassailable 3-0 lead over Germany on Saturday as David Nalbandian and Horacio Zeballos defeated Tobias Kamke and Christopher Kas 6-1, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 in two hours and 48 minutes. Wins for Carlos Berlocq and Juan Monaco on Friday had given the host nation a commanding 2-0 lead after the first day’s play. Argentina has finished runner-up in the Davis Cup four times, most recently losing the 2011 final to Spain, and goes onto face France in the quarter-finals.

USA 2, BRAZIL 1
Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena, Jacksonville, USA

Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares handed Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan their first loss of the season, edging the twins 7-6(6), 6-7(7), 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to keep Brazil alive against the USA. Melo and Soares saved five of the six break points they faced to become just the third team in 23 matches to defeat the Bryans in Davis Cup competition.

Thomaz Bellucci will look to level the first-round tie when he faces top-ranked American John Isner in Sunday’s first reverse singles rubber.

CANADA 2, SPAIN 1
Thunderbird Sports Centre, Vancouver, Canada

Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez kept Spain's hopes alive, rallying from a two-sets-to-one deficit to defeat Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil 4-6, 6-4, 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-2. Granollers and Lopez saved eight of ten break points en route to their three hour and 53 minute victory.

World No. 34 Granollers will face off against top-ranked Canadian Milos Raonic for the first time in Sunday's first reverse singles rubber. Spain has not lost in the first round since 2006, when Belarus won the tie in Minsk 4-1.