Davis Cup: Novak Djokovic survives injury scare; Serbia take 2-0 lead vs Russia

Serbias Novak Djokovic during his Davis Cup Round 1 tie vs Daniil Medvedev of Russia on Friday PicAFPParis Novak Djokovic survived an injury scare and battled back from a set and a break down to help Serbia take a 20 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup World Group tie on FridayTwelvetime major winner Djokovic just one of two of the worlds top 15 playing in the first round this weekend dropped the first set and was 03 down in the second against promising 20yearold Daniil Medvedev in NisDjokovic looking to rebuild his confidence after a shock second round exit at the Australian Open needed firstset treatment on his right shoulder before recovering for a 36 64 61 lead Medvedev dropped the opening game of the fourth set and then retired with crampsEarlier world number 37 Viktor Troicki had given 2010 champions Serbia a winning start downing 52ndranked Karen Khachanov 64 67 37 63 16 76 86 in a 4hr 30min marathon The pain I had prevented me from playing the points as I wanted to said Djokovic But its a good victory and we are in a very good positionThe winners of the tie will face either fivetime champions Spain or Croatia in the quarterfinals Despite missing former US Open champion Marin Cilic the Croats took the lead in Osijek when world number 223 Franko Skugor stunned 26thranked Pablo Carreno Busta 36 63 64 46 76 86Roberto Bautista Agut steadied the ship for Spain with the world 16 breezing past Ante Pavic ranked at 486 64 62 63 Australia became the first team to reach the quarterfinals when doubles pair John Peers and Sam Groth crushed Czechs Jiri Vesely and Jan Satral 63 62 62 in Melbourne for an unassailable 30 leadA day earlier controversial world number 15 Nick Kyrgios had powered Australia to a 20 lead with a 62 63 62 win over the 157thranked Jan Satral Rookie Jordan Thompson upset Jiri Vesely 63 63 64 The Czechs already missing world number 10 Tomas Berdych were further disadvantaged when experienced Radek Stepanek was forced to withdraw from the doubles with injuryThe 28time champions Australia could next face the United States the 32time winners who were 20 up on Switzerland in Birmingham Alabama The US went in as heavy favourites after Australian Open champion Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka opted not to play Jack Sock gave the Americans a flying start with a 64 63 61 win over veteran Marco Chiudinelli John Isner followed with a 46 62 62 76 71 victory over Henri LaaksonenArgentina endured a traumatic start to their title defence when they slumped 20 down to Italy despite the fervent support of Diego Maradona Playing without Juan Martin del Potro and Federico Delbonis the stars of their 2016 final victory over Croatia the South Americans were outclassed at the Parque Sarmiento in Buenos Aires A crowd of 2000 including football icon Maradona failed to inspire Guido Pella who lost to veteran Paolo Lorenzi 63 63 63Andreas Seppi a late callup for the ill Fabio Fognini then made it 20 with a 61 62 16 76 86 win over Carlos Berlocq who was celebrating his 34th birthdayThe winners of the tie will next face either Germany or Belgium who are 11 in Frankfurt World number 22 Alexander Zverev crushed Arthur de Greef the world 143 to pull Germany level after Steve Darcis downed Philipp Kohlschreiber 64 36 26 76 72 75 75 In Ottawa Dan Evans downed 17yearold Denis Shapovalov 63 63 64 to give Britain playing without world number one Andy Murray a lead over Canada Vasek Pospisil got the hosts back on even terms with a 64 61 76 73 victory over Kyle EdmundThe winners of the tie are likely to next face ninetime champions France who took a 20 stranglehold against Japan who are without world number five Kei Nishikori Richard Gasquet swept past Taro Daniel 62 63 62 before Gilles Simon overpowered Yoshihito Nishioka 63 63 64