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Djokovic knocks US out of Davis Cup

David Ferrer defeated Stanislas Wawrinka © Getty Images

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Sunday's Davis Cup gallery

Serbia's Novak Djokovic delivered the knockout blow to the United States' Davis Cup campaign after defeating John Isner 7-5 3-6 6-3 6-7(6) 6-4 in four hours 16 minutes.

The world No. 2's victory put Serbia 3-1 up against the 32-time Davis Cup champions with one rubber remaining. They will face Croatia, who whitewashed Ecuador 5-0, in the July quarter-finals.

"Isner fought like crazy, and his serve was unbelievable," Djokovic said. "His serves are coming like from the fourth floor, and I had no idea where they would go."

Spain also reached the quarters after David Ferrer defeated Stanislas Wawrinka 6-2 6-4 6-0 to give them an insurmountable 3-1 advantage over Switzerland.

Ferrer dispatched his 24-year-old opponent in clinical fashion, keeping the ball alive in rallies to provoke errors. Wawrinka made twice as many unforced indiscretions as the world No. 16 across the 154 minutes of action.

In the final rubber, Nicolas Almagro beat Marco Chiudinelli 6-1 6-3 to secure an overall 4-1 triumph for Spain, who are in search of their third successive Davis Cup.

They will face France in the next round after Guy Forget's team defeated Germany 4-1. In Sunday's action, Julien Benneteau beat Benjamin Becker 6-2 7-5 and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga was forced to retire during his match against Simon Gruel.

The world No. 11 pulled out with an ankle injury that is not expected to rule him out of the BNP Paribas Open, which starts next week at Indian Wells. "I preferred to stop because it hurt me when I walked," Tsonga said. "It should take a few days before returning to normal. I will undergo scans tomorrow morning."

Russia will also compete in the last eight after Mikhail Youzhny overcame India's Somdev Devvarman 6-2 6-1 6-3. The world No. 13 did not lose his serve in the match as he stormed to victory in less than two hours. "It was tough to play today," Youzhny said. "He had nothing to [lose] and played for every point."

Argentina await the Russians in the next round after David Nalbandian defeated Sweden's Andreas Vinciguerra 7-5 6-3 4-6 6-4 in the crucial final rubber. Earlier in the day Robin Soderling had vanquished Leonardo Mayer to level the tie at 2-2.

Steve Darcis beat Jan Hajek 7-6(6) 1-6 6-4 on Sunday to clinch a consolation point for Belgium in a 4-1 loss to the Czech Republic.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.