Marat Safin and Mikhail Youzhny trounced twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in the doubles to give Russia an insurmountable 3-0 lead over Thailand in their Davis Cup World Group playoff tie on Saturday.

The Russians broke the Thai brothers twice in the first two sets before securing another in the seventh game of the final set to close out the match in 85 minutes.

The easy victory enabled the 2002 Davis Cup champions to retain their place in the 16-team World Group for next year.

Thailand will return to the Asia/Oceania Zone Group One.

On Friday, Igor Andreev overpowered Thai number one Paradorn Srichaphan 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 and former world number one Safin thrashed Danai Udomchoke 6-4, 6-1, 6-2 to give the home team a 2-0 lead after the opening day.