Janko Tipsarevic beat Michael Ryderstedt of Sweden in straight sets yesterday to send Serbia through to the Davis Cup quarterfinals against the Czech Republic.

Tipsarevic won 6-2, 7-6 (5), 7-5 to give Serbia an unassailable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five series on an indoor hard court in the central Serbian town of Nis.

The Serbians won the two opening singles matches, but Swedish pair Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt beat Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles match.

Serbia played without top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is resting after winning the Australian Open.

Simone Bolelli defeated substitute Frantisek Cermak 6-4, 6-4 for Italy's lone consolation win against the Czech Republic in the first round of the Davis Cup yesterday.

The Czechs won the best-of-five series 4-1. Italy now needs to win a playoff to stay in the World Group.

The Czechs already earned a spot in the quarters following their victories in the opening singles and the doubles and rested their top players – Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek in the reverse singles.

Earlier yesterday, Lukas Rosol came from a set down to upset Andreas Seppi for the Czech Republic to stretch its lead to 4-0.

Rosol, ranked 78th, converted his fourth match point against his 42nd-ranked opponent and is unbeaten in Davis Cup with two wins.

Berdych and Stepanek defeated Daniele Braccialli and Potito Starace 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 in Saturday's doubles and on Friday, Stepanek overcame Seppi in five sets, and Berdych defeated Bolelli in four.