OSTRAVA, Czech Republic — Radek Stepanek beat Gilles Simon 7-6 (2), 6-3, 7-6 (0) in the opening singles today to give the Czech Republic an unbeatable 3-1 lead over France and a place in the quarterfinals of the Davis Cup World Group.

The Czechs will play last year's runner-up Argentina at home on July 10-12.

In the final set, the eighth-ranked Simon squandered four breakpoints in the fifth game. He then managed to break Stepanek for a 5-4 lead, but the Czech broke right back, taking the set into another tiebreak.

In the tiebreak, Stepanek never gave Simon any chance, winning 7-0 after Simon sent a forehand long on match point.