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Serbs lock up Davis Cup series in Belgium

CHARLEROI, Belgium, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic teamed for a four-set win Saturday, clinching a Davis Cup first-round series for Serbia over Belgium.

Troicki and Zimonjic defeated Belgians Ruben Bemelmans and Steve Darcis 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, giving Serbia a 3-0 lead in the best-of-five series. The Serbs head to the April 5-7 quarterfinals against either Croatia or Italy, who were tied 1-1 after Friday's play.

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It was the second point of the series for Troicki, who opened play Friday by rallying back from a two-set, one-break deficit late to beat David Goffin. World No. 1 Novak Djokovic put Serbia up 2-0 with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 win over Olivier Rochus.

Troicki and Zimonjic had the lone break in the first set and needed two to take the second. Bemelmans and Darcis kept the match going with a late third-set break but the Serbs finished the match and locked up the series with a break -- their fourth of the day -- in the final game.

Both sides had 29 unforced errors but Troicki and Zimonjic combined for 91 winners and took 82 percent of the points on serve.

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Sunday's schedule called for Djokovic to meet Goffin and Troicki to get against Rochus in the reverse singles.

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