Czechs take Davis Cup lead over Belgium

BREE, Belgium, March 5 (UPI) -- Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek each posted straight-set wins Friday in lifting the Czech Republic to a 2-0 lead over Belgium in first-round Davis Cup action.

The wins put the Czechs, playing on a clay indoor court in Belgium, on the verge of advancing to July's quarterfinals. They need only one win in the three remaining matches -- a doubles match Saturday or either of the reverse singles Sunday.

Berdych gave the Czechs the early lead with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-4 victory over Olivier Rochus. Berdych grabbed the edge with breaks on Rochus's first service game in each set. Berdych didn't drop a service game until he was up 4-1 and two breaks in the third set.

Stepanek made it 2-0 with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3) triumph over Xavier Malisse. Stepanek cashed in six of the seven break-point chances he forced on Malisse. He controlled the match with steady serving, landing 70 percent of his first serves.

On Saturday the Czechs send the doubles team of Lukas Dlouhy and Jan Hajek against Rochus and Steve Darcis.

The Belgium-Czech Republic winner takes on the survivor of a series between Chile and Israel.