While no one really expected India to beat Uzbekistan in this Asia-Oceania Group 1 Semi-final encounter, the doubles point was one that India would traditionally have considered as one that was always theirs to win. However, the scratch Uzbeki pairing of Murad Inoyatov and world no.43 Denis Istomin stunned the top 10 Indian duo of Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna.

To say that the Indians missed the considerable talents of Mahesh Bhupathi, who opted out of this tie to save AITA a selection headache, was an understatement. And perhaps, Bhupathi's decision could have a massive bearing on who represents India at the Olympics later this year with Paes and Bopanna's defeat to a considerably weaker Uzbekistan duo showcasing their lack of cohesiveness as a unit.

All four ties were still 'alive' at the end of an engrossing day of doubles play on the second day of the Davis Cup quarterfinals. While Austria fought back bravely to restore some pride and the Argentinians huffed and puffed in front of an adoring home crowd to earn the vital lead going into the reverse singles, the Americans and the Czechs recorded comfortable doubles wins to enhance their chances of advancing to the semifinals.

Spain 2-1 Austria(Being played at Marina D'Or, Oropesa Del Mar, Castellon, Spain. Surface: Red Clay, Outdoor)

The Austrian pairing of Olivier Marach and Alexander Peya gave their side something to cheer about on a rain-interrupted second day of their Davis Cup quarterfinal against defending champions Spain as they rallied from a set down to produce a famous doubles victory and thus reduce the deficit to 2-1 going into the reverse singles on the final day.

The sting of a first-round loss last year at the USTA International Spring Championships fresh on her mind all week, Jessica Ho of Tampa, Fla., put a halt to Los Angeles resident Emma Higuchi's strong play in a 6-1, 6-1 victory in the Girls' 16s final at the Home Depot Center on Saturday. It was one year ago that Ho, from Wexford, Pa., and training in Tampa, Fla., lost to eventual champion Yuki Chiang on Day 1 of the tournament.

"I came out and played well from the start and felt my game matched up with hers," said Ho, who said she did not start to feel nervous until she went ahead 5-0 in the first set. After tournament director John Lansville handed her the crystal bowl trophy given to each winner, Ho seemed surprised. "Do I get to keep this?" she asked.

Serena Williams, produced, in her words, 'one of the best matches in her whole career', to completely dismantle a familiar opponent in Samantha Stosur in the semifinals of the Family Circle Cup. Williams won the match 6-1, 6-1 in less than an hour as she took further revenge for her US Open final defeat at the hands of the 28-year old Aussie. (Williams had also won their fourth-round encounter in Miami last week). As if to say 'whatever you can do, I can do better', Czech star Lucie Safarova 'double-bageled' the hapless and perhaps overwhelmed Slovenian Polona Hercog in the second semifinal to advance to her third Premier-level tournament final.

Williams has had trouble with Stosur in the past, but today was different - Serena came out all guns blazing, sending down an impressive 29 winners enroute to a win in just 58 minutes. "I have to say this is probably the best match I've played in my career either in a long time or it's up there in the Top 5," Williams said afterwards. "Sam is such an excellent clay court player, and she's Top 10, Top 5, so playing someone that's so good and doing so well is honestly a really good match for me."It was one of those days I could have done anything against anybody. Maybe I could have beaten Andy again. I'm definitely ready for him now - just today."

Australia has clinched a World Group playoff spot after taking an unbeatable 3-0 lead in their Davis Cup tie against Korea in Brisbane today. After a dominating start by the Koreans taking the first set 6-4, Aussie doubles pair Marinko Matosevic and Chris Guccione took awhile to get their momentum but fought back comfortably to take the match 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-2.

An experienced doubles player, Guccione led the pair by staying strong under Korean pressure in the last set –"I want to thank Gooch for carrying me on his big shoulders today," Matosevic said after he won his first ever Davis Cup match.

Spain took a definitive step towards yet another Davis Cup semifinal while the other three ties ended all square on Day 1 of quarterfinal action at the 2012 Davis Cup. While the all-conquering Spaniards tamed the feeble Austrian challenge to take a 2-0 lead, 2010 champions Serbia barely managed to escape going down 2-0 and scraped a point in an ill-tempered tie against the fired-up Croats in Prague. Argentina fought back to level their tie at 1 apiece while France and the USA, both playing with depleted teams, left people hungry for more as they also ended the day with one rubber each.

Spain 2-0 Austria (Being played at Marina D'Or, Oropesa del Mar, Castellon, Surface: Red Clay, Outdoor)