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Davis Cup round-up: Novak Djokovic survives pain and scare

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during the Davis Cup World Group first round singles tennis match between Serbia and R
Image: Novak Djokovic survived a scare to beat Daniil Medvedev

Novak Djokovic battled through the pain barrier, and survived an early scare, as Serbia opened up a 2-0 lead on the first day of their Davis Cup World Group tie against Russia.

Djokovic, who needed treatment on a sore right shoulder, dropped the opening set and then found himself trailing 0-3 in the second to 20-year-old Daniil Medvedev.

However, the world No 2 recovered to lead 3-6 6-4 6-1 before Medvedev retired with cramps after dropping the opening game of the fourth set.

The 29-year-old said: "The pain I had prevented me from playing the points as I wanted to. But it's a good victory and we are in a very good position."

Serbia's Novak Djokovic receives medical treatment during the Davis Cup World Group first round singles tennis match between Serbia and Russia at Cair spor
Image: Djokovic needed treatment on his right shoulder during the tie

Earlier, Viktor Troicki had given Serbia a winning start after surviving a five-set marathon which lasted four hours and 30 minutes.

The world No 37 eventually won 6-4 6-7 (3/7) 6-3 1-6 7-6 (8/6), although his opponent Karen Khachanov held a match point at 6-5 in the deciding tie-break.

Defending Davis Cup champions Argentina could be eliminated at the first hurdle, after falling 2-0 behind to Italy in Buenos Aires.

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The hosts only won one set in the opening two rubbers as Paolo Lorenzi beat Guido Pella 6-3 6-3 6-3 and Andreas Seppi defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-1 6-2 1-6, 7-6 (8/6).

Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert seal an easy win for France who have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in Tokyo
Image: Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert seal an easy win for France who have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in Tokyo

The United States opened up a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in Birmingham, Alabama.

With neither Roger Federer nor Stan Wawrinka in their line-up, the Swiss were no match for Jack Sock and John Isner who beat Marco Chiudinelli and Henri Laaksonen respectively.

In Frankfurt, hosts Germany are tied 1-1 with Belgium for whom Steve Darcis recovered from two sets to one down, to beat Philipp Kohlschreiber in the opening rubber.

Darcis won 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6 (7/2) 7-6 (7/5), after Kohlschreiber had looked set to clinch the match in the fourth set when he led 4-2.

In a topsy-turvy contest, the German also led 4-1 in the decider while Darcis missed the chance to serve out at 5-4 before edging through in a close tie-break.

However, Alexander Zverev levelled the tie with a straight sets success over Arthur de Greef.

Elsewhere, Croatia and Spain shared the opening singles in Osijek. The decisive moments on day one featured the rubber between Franko Skugor and Pablo Carreno Busta.

The scene at Kooyong in Melbourne where Australia eased past the Czech Republic who are yet to register a single set
Image: The scene at Kooyong in Melbourne where Australia eased past the Czech Republic who are yet to register a single set

The latter led 4-1 in the final set, and even had three match points in the 10th game, before losing 3-6 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6 (8/6).

Meanwhile, two nations have already booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the competition.

In Melbourne, Australia have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead over the Czech Republic who are yet to win a single set at Kooyong.

And France also swept through the first nine sets in Tokyo, to open a 3-0 advantage over Japan who were missing their world No 5 Kei Nishikori.

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