Sweden cuts into Serbia lead in Davis Cup

NIS, Serbia (AP) -Sweden staved off elimination from the Davis Cup first round after beating Serbia - playing without top-ranked Novak Djokovic - in Saturday's doubles.

Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt edged Janko Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4), 6-7 (3), 10-8 in a grueling 3-hour, 8-minute match.

The crucial break came in the 17th game of the fifth set when the Swedes broke Zimonjic's serve and Brunstrom sealed the match on his serve.

Serbia, the 2010 champion, is playing without Djokovic who is resting after winning the Australian Open. Sweden is without Robin Soderling because of illness that has sidelined him for months.

Serbia hopes to wrap up the best-of-five series in the reverse singles on Sunday, which starts with the ninth-ranked Tipsarevic playing Michael Ryderstedt.

"All the credit to the Swedish team, but we are still leading and I expect the victory in the next match," Serbia team captain Bogdan Obradovic said.

Serbia was ahead after Tipsarevic defeated Filip Prpic and Viktor Troicki beat Ryderstedt in the opening singles on Friday.

The winner will play the Czech Republic in the quarterfinals.