Djokovic, Troicki Give Serbia Lead; Berdych Draws Czechs Level In Geneva

© Getty ImagesViktor Troicki came from two sets down to beat David Goffin.

ATPWorldTour.com reviews Friday's play in the Davis Cup World Group first-round ties.

BELGIUM 0, SERBIA 2
Spiroudome de Charleroi, Charleroi, Belgium
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic cemented a 2-0 lead for Serbia over Belgium with a straight-sets win after Viktor Troicki’s heroics earlier in the day. The six-time Grand Slam champion, who triumphed at the Australian Open last week (d. Murray), dismissed Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in one hour and 39 minutes, hitting 59 winners to just 24 unforced errors. The Belgrade native improved to a 22-9 Davis Cup record.

“The serve was incredible and I think that helped me to get the match done in straight sets which was important,” said Djokovic. “It wasn’t easy playing on clay after a long time indoors and coming from Australia quite late. At the start, I had trouble with movement and getting used to the conditions but I managed to play my best tennis when I needed to.”

Troicki had come from two sets down to beat David Goffin 1-6, 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-4 in the first singles rubber. Troicki hit 15 aces and benefitted from 77 unforced errors from Goffin, with 53 of those coming in the final three sets, to clinch victory in just under four hours. Serbia won the Davis Cup trophy for the first time in 2010.

SWITZERLAND 1, CZECH REPUBLIC 1
Palexpo, Geneva, Switzerland
Tomas Berdych held off spirited resistance from World No. 289 Henri Laaksonen to draw defending champion Czech Republic level at 1-1 with Switzerland. The World No. 6 lost the third set, but prevailed 6-3, 6-2, 6-7(5), 6-1 in two hours and 35 minutes. Earlier in the day, Stanislas Wawrinka had converted four of his nine break point opportunities to defeat Lukas Rosol 6-4, 6-3, 6-4 to hand 1992 runner-up Switzerland an early lead. The Czech Republic is hoping to avoid the fate of eight defending champion nations, who have lost in the first round since 1972.

KAZAKHSTAN 2, AUSTRIA 0

National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan
Andrey Golubev and Evgeny Korolev have given Kazakhstan a 2-0 lead after the first day’s play. Golubev maintained his winning singles record in home ties with a 7-6(2), 6-3, 7-5 victory over Austria’s Andreas Haider-Maurer, while Korolev hit 53 winners past Jurgen Melzer in a 7-6(4), 6-3, 6-2 win.

ARGENTINA 2, GERMANY 0
Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Argentina leads Germany 2-0 after World No. 12 Juan Monaco overcame Florian Mayer 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to win the second rubber. Monaco broke Mayer nine times to clinch the win in two hours and 43 minutes. Earlier, German Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced to retire with a left leg injury when leading Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 4-6, 5-4 in the fifth set.