France and Sweden win dramatic Davis Cup ties

Holders France survived a stern test from the Netherlands as Sweden, Spain, Croatia and Russia also secured victories on Sunday to reach the Davis Cup quarter-finals.

The five European countries completed the competition's last eight after the U.S., Argentina and the Czech Republic clinched their world group first round ties on Saturday.

French number one Sebastien Grosjean struggled for over three hours to beat Dutchman Sjeng Schalken 6-2 1-6 7-6 2-6 6-3 and give his side an unbeatable 3-1 lead.

Grosjean, who lost both singles matches when France beat Australia in last year's final, never looked completely at ease against the towering Dutchman who has played 14 sets in three matches over the weekend.

Schalken lost to Arnaud Clement on Friday, but helped his side win Saturday's doubles with Paul Haarhuis.

"It was very tough until the very last point," Grosjean said. "Schalken played really well throughout the match and he didn't looked tired like we could have expected him to be after the last two days he had.

"I wanted to do something great and I wanted to give something to the team."

Grosjean looked poised for a four-set victory after breaking his opponent's in the first game, but his opponent swiftly bounced back to take five consecutive games to level the match.

In the decider, Schalken kept up the pace and led 2-0 but Grosjean fought back to clinch victory on his second match-point.

France, who won the tie 3-2 after Clement lost the dead singles to Edwin Kempes, will meet the Czech Republic, 4-1 victors over Brazil in Ostrava, in the next round.

HOPES DASHED

Britain's hopes of reaching the last eight for the first time since 1986 were dashed when Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson battled past Greg Rusedski 4-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 to complete a dramatic 3-2 victory in Birmingham.

The Swedes, who trailed 2-1 after the doubles on Saturday, won both singles matches on Sunday, with Thomas Enqvist crushing British number one Tim Henman 6-4 6-2 6-4.

"There's an enormous amount of disappointment," Henman said. "You can't just close the lid on it."

Johansson, who missed the opening singles on Friday through injury, started slowly against Rusedski and lost the first set.

But the Swede regrouped quickly to take the second set, and the third turned out to be a real tussle as both players struggled to hold serve -- Rusedski was even broken to love when serving for the set at 5-3.

Having won five straight games from 5-2 down to take the set, Johansson finally wrapped up the tie in the fourth as an increasingly frustrated Rusedski tamely surrendered his serve at 2-2 with an easy backhand into the net.

Sweden, seven times Davis Cup champions, will next face Russia, who also had to wait till the final match before clinching a thrilling 3-2 win over Switzerland in Moscow, for a place in the semifinals.

UPSET VICTORY

Australian Open runner-up Marat Safin defeated Switzerland's Michel Kratochvil 6-1 7-6 6-4 in the deciding match to deny the visitors a famous victory.

The Russians led 2-1 after the doubles but Roger Federer -- who led Switzerland to an upset victory over the United States in the first round last year -- thrashed Yevgeny Kafelnikov 7-6 6-1 6-1 to leave the tie hanging in the balance.

"I tried my best today and in the end I was lucky," Safin said. "I was happy that we were playing here in Moscow...we were very nervous because it was a very important match."

Kratochvil initially struggled to find his form on clay against Safin, but settled down in the second set and broke serve in the fourth game to lead 4-1.

But the Swiss player was rattled after a couple of close line calls went against him, allowing Safin to come back and take the set on a tie-break.

Having gained the psychological advantage of a two-set lead, Safin piled on the pressure and gained the crucial break in the third set to wrap up the tie.

Croatia, spearheaded by Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic, swept past Germany 4-1 to book their place in the last eight against Argentina -- the surprise 5-0 conquerors of last year's runners-up Australia.

Ivanisevic beat Germany's Rainer Schuettler 6-4 7-6 7-6 before Ivan Ljubicic overcame Nicolas Kiefer 7-6 6-4 in the dead rubber.

Spain, champions in 2000 but first round losers last year, edged through 3-2 against Morocco after Karim Alami retired with a thigh injury when trailing Alex Corretja by two sets in the deciding singles.

Morocco, trailing 2-1 after Saturday's doubles, forced the match into a decider when Younes El Aynaoui won an enthralling five-set clash with Spanish world number three Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-6 6-0 3-6 0-6 6-3.

Spain will meet the United States, conquerors of Slovakia by 5-0 after victories by James Blake and Andy Roddick on Sunday wrapped up their one-sided tie, in the next round.