Spain sweeps Belgium in Davis Cup

CHARLEROI, Belgium, March 5 (UPI) -- Spain won its first-round Davis Cup match over Belgium Saturday with a victory by the doubles team of Fernando Verdasco and Feliciano Lopez.

Verdasco and Lopez downed the Belgian duo of Steve Darcis and Olivier Rochus (7-0), 6-4, 6-3, giving the Spaniards an insurmountable 3-0 lead in the best-of-five match.

The doubles win capped an efficient performance by Spain, which took a 2-0 lead Friday when Verdasco posted a straight-set win over Xavier Malisse and world No. 1 Rafael Nadal thumped Ruben Bemelmans 6-2, 6-4, 6-2.

Spain now goes on the quarterfinals where it will play the winner of the United States and Chile.