Novak Djokovic survived an injury scare and battled back from a set and a break down to help Serbia take a 2-0 lead over Russia in the Davis Cup World Group tie Friday. Twelve-time major winner Djokovic, just one of two of the world's top 15 playing in the first round this weekend, dropped the first set and was 0-3 down in the second against promising 20-year-old Daniil Medvedev in Nis. Djokovic, looking to rebuild his confidence after a shock second round exit at the Australian Open, needed first-set treatment on his right shoulder before recovering for a 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 lead. Medvedev dropped the opening game of the fourth set and then retired with cramps. Earlier, world No. 37 Viktor Troicki had given 2010 champion Serbia a winning start, downing 52nd-ranked Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-7 (3/7), 6-3, 1-6, 7-6 (8/6) in a 4hr 30min marathon. The winner of the tie will face either five-time champion Spain or Croatia in the quarterfinals. Despite missing former US Open champion Marin Cilic, the Croats took the lead in Osijek when world No. 223 Franko Skugor stunned 26th-ranked Pablo Carreno Busta 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (8/6). Roberto Bautista Agut steadied the ship for Spain with the world 16 breezing past Ante Pavic — ranked at 486 — 6-4, 6-2, 6-3. Australia became the first team to reach the quarterfinals when doubles pair John Peers and Sam Groth crushed Czechs Jiri Vesely and Jan Satral 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 in Melbourne for an unassailable 3-0 lead. A day earlier, controversial world No. 15 Nick Kyrgios had powered Australia to a 2-0 lead with a 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 win over the 157th-ranked Jan Satral. Rookie Jordan Thompson upset Jiri Vesely 6-3, 6-3, 6-4. The 28-time champion Australia could next face the United States, the 32-time winner who was 2-0 up on Switzerland in Birmingham, Alabama. Jack Sock gave the Americans a flying start with a 6-4, 6-3, 6-1 win over veteran Marco Chiudinelli. John Isner followed with a 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 7-6 (7/1) victory over Henri Laaksonen. Argentina endured a traumatic start to its title defense when it slumped 2-0 down to Italy despite the fervent support of Diego Maradona. Playing without Juan Martin del Potro and Federico Delbonis the South Americans were outclassed at the Parque Sarmiento in Buenos Aires. The winner of the tie will next face either Germany or Belgium, who are 1-1 in Frankfurt. World No. 22 Alexander Zverev crushed Arthur de Greef, the world 143, to pull Germany level after Steve Darcis downed Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 (7/5). In Ottawa, Dan Evans, downed 17-year-old Denis Shapovalov 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to give Britain, playing without world No. 1 Andy Murray, a lead over Canada. Vasek Pospisil got the hosts back on even terms with a 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Kyle Edmund. The winner of the tie is likely to next face nine-time champion France. Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut clinched France's Davis Cup match against Japan Saturday with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win over Yuichi Sugita and Yasutaka Uchiyama. France thus secured a 3-0 lead. — Agencies
