ASTANA: Holders Czech Republic overcame the absence of their top two players, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, to take a 2-0 lead against Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup quarterfinal yesterday.

Jan Hajek had little trouble disposing 156th-ranked Mikhail Kukushkin 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in the opening singles before Lukas Rosol prevailed over world No. 205 Andrey Golubev 4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 to put the defending champions in command after the first day.

“It’s not that easy to play the first match so I had to keep my focus and followed my plan for most of the match and it paid off in the end,” 94th-ranked Hajek said.

World No. 6 Berdych was forced to pull out of the three-day indoor tie, played on clay at the National Tennis Center in Astana, after injuring his shoulder at last week’s Sony Open in Maimi, while 45th-ranked Stepanek was rested for the singles matches.

Stepanek, who has not played since undergoing neck surgery in January to relieve stress on a nerve, will have the chance to seal victory for the Czechs when he makes his competitive comeback in Saturday’s doubles rubber.

“Radek wants to play tomorrow to finish our tie so I hope that they can finish it,” Czech Republic captain Jaroslav Navratil said.

Berdych and Stepanek led the Czechs to their first Davis Cup title as an independent nation last year.

Kazakhstan, with all four of their players coming from Russia, shocked the Czechs 3-2 in their only previous Davis Cup tie in Ostrava in 2011 when they made their debut in the World Group as an independent nation but must produce a miracle to stage another upset this time round.

In other last eight ties this weekend, Argentina host France, a Novak Djokovic-led Serbian side take on 32-times champions United States in Boise, Idaho, while Canada face Italy.

India takes 2-0 lead

In Bangalore, favorites India won both the opening singles against Indonesia to take a 2-0 lead in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania group one tie in yesterday.

India’s top player Somdev Devvarman proved too strong for 19-year-old Wisnu Adi Nugroho, winning 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 in an hour and 30 minutes in the first match.

Yuki Bhambri, ranked 279 in the world, then defeated No. 250 Christopher Rungkat 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to hand the hosts a flying start in a tie where the winner will avoid relegation to group two.

“It is just the start we wanted,” said Indian coach Zeeshan Ali. “It is always a big advantage to win both matches on the first day. Hopefully we can wrap it up tomorrow.” The doubles tie today will feature Indian veteran Leander Paes partnering Sanam Singh against Elbert Sie and David Susanto.

India were back to full strength after 11 top players, including Devvarman and Bhambri, had skipped the tie against South Korea in February following a pay dispute with the country’s tennis federation.

The depleted Indians lost to the Koreans 4-1, but are now expected to extend their 5-0 unbeaten Davis Cup record against Indonesia.

Uzbek, Australia even 1-1

In Tashkent, Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin needed four sets before downing Marinko Matosevic to level Asia-Oceania Group one second round tie with Australia in Namangan yesterday.

Istomin, ranked 46, subdued a spirited challenge from the 50th-ranked Matosevic to win the second singles rubber 6-4, 7-6 (7/1), 3-6, 6-4 on the indoor red clay surface.

Bernard Tomic, the highest-ranked player in the tie at 43, got Australia off to a winning start by beating Farrukh Dustov, 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 6-4 in the opening rubber.

Davis Cup warhorse Lleyton Hewitt will team with Matt Ebden in a pivotal doubles rubber against Istomin and Dustov today.

Australian captain Pat Rafter surprised observers by giving the unproven Matosevic the nod over Hewitt for the opening day singles, despite the former world number one’s 52-16 record in Davis Cup competition.

“Marinko played by far his best Davis Cup match. He was very, very good against a very solid player,” Rafter said.