Croatia clinches Davis Cup win over Ecuador

VARAZDIN, Croatia (AP) -Croatia has clinched a spot in the Davis Cup quarterfinals after Marin Cilic and Ivo Karlovic earned a straight-set win in doubles to give the hosts an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Ecuador.

The Croatian duo defeated brothers Nicolas and Giovanni Lapentti 7-6 (3), 6-3, 7-5 after sweeping the opening singles on Friday.

Croatia, the 2005 Davis Cup champion, will face either Serbia or the United States in the next round. The U.S. won the doubles match Saturday to cut the Serbia lead to 2-1.

Cilic and Karlovic replaced original doubles pair Ivan Dodig and Antonio Veic for the doubles.

Bilic opens Prem doorDjokovic to lead Serbia against U.S. in Davis Cup