Bryan brothers produced a ruthless doubles masterclass on Saturday to propel Davis Cup holders United States into a quarterfinal showdown with France.

Twins Bob and Mike Bryan did not seem to be troubled by the hastily laid indoor claycourt, which team mate Andy Roddick had lambasted as "terrible", and dispatched Austria's Juergen Melzer and Julian Knowle in just 89 minutes.

The world number ones lived up to their billing as they outclassed the Austrian duo 6-1 6-4 6-2 to give the Americans an unbeatable 3-0 lead in the world group first-round tie.

France also wrapped up their tie against Romania in the Transylvanian town of Sibiu with a day to spare. But unlike the swift victory enjoyed by the Bryans, Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra laboured for more than four hours before wearing down Florin Mergea and Horia Tecau 6-3, 6-4, 6-7, 3-6, 6-2.

Argentina, the Czech Republic and Spain also booked their places in the last eight. The Czechs, who will face Russia, ended Belgium's hopes of progressing after Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek fought tooth-and-nail to carve out an exhausting 6-7, 7-6, 7-5, 5-7, 6-4 win over Olivier Rochus and Kristof Vliegen in Ostrava.

Jamie Baker spared Britain from a whitewash against Argentina after defeating Agustin Calleri 7-6 6-4 in the final dead rubber on Sunday.

Argentina, runners-up in 2006, had already secured their place in the quarter-finals on Saturday after taking a 3-0 winning lead but fell one match short of completing a rout. Jose Acasuso extended Argentina's lead to 4-0 earlier on Sunday, defeating Alex Bogdanovic 7-5 7-5 in the first reverse singles.

Doubles specialist Jonas Bjorkman beat Israel's Harel Levy in four sets on Sunday to give Sweden a 3-2 win. The Swedes will travel to Argentina to play quarterfinals in April. Sweden went into Sunday's reverse singles needing to win both matches. 

Russia beat Serbia when an unwell Novak Djokovic retired from his match against Nikolay Davydenko, handing the home team an unassailable 3-1 lead in their first-round tie on Sunday.

Philipp Kohlschreiber held on to beat South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik 6-0, 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 on Sunday and send Germany through to the quarterfinals with a 3-1 winning lead in Berlin. Germany, beaten semi-finalists last year, will go on to play Spain in the quarterfinals.

Results (first round): Russia bt Serbia 3-2; Czech Republic bt Belgium  3-2; Argentina bt Britain 4-1; Sweden bt Israel 3-2; Germany bt South Korea 3-2; Spain bt Peru 3-0; France bt Romania 5-0; US bt Austria 4-1.

Quarterfinals draw (From April 11-13): Russia vs Czech Republic; Argentina vs Sweden; Germany vs Spain; US vs France.