London: Spain, Sweden and Argentina reached the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup after sealing World Group first round victories with a minimum of fuss on Saturday.
Favourites Spain, seeking to regain the title they have made a habit of winning over the past 11 years, took a 3-0 lead against Belgium in Charleroi as Feliciano Lopez and Fernando Verdasco beat Olivier Rochus and Steve Darcis 7-6 6-4 6-3.
Belgium have yet to win a set in the tie with Sunday's two "dead" rubbers to come - one of which world number one Rafa Nadal will treat as a glorified practice against Xavier Malisse.
Nadal made a winning return on Friday after more than a month out injured when he cruised past Ruben Bemelmans to give his side a 2-0 lead that Belgium were ill-equipped to overhaul.
Lopez is already casting his mind ahead to a quarter-final against the United States, after Bob and Mike Bryan gave Jim Courier's side a 2-1 lead against Chile in Santiago.
"The match against the United States will be extremely tough," he told reporters. "They are one of the toughest teams we could get playing away, with Andy Roddick and John Isner and the world's best doubles team."
Sweden took an unassailable lead against a below-strength Russia with Simon Aspelin and Robert Lindstedt beating Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov while in Buenos Aires, Argentina also established a 3-0 lead.
The other five first round ties are all still alive going into Sunday's reverse singles with the U.S., Germany, France, Czech Republic and Serbia one point away from progressing to the last eight.
France were stalled by Austria inside a hangar at Vienna's international airport - Juergen Melzer and Oliver Marach keeping the tie alive for the hosts with victory over Julien Benneteau and Michael Llodra.
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