Nis, Serbia (Sports Network) - Playing without its world No. 1 superstar
Novak Djokovic, Serbia jumped out to a commanding 2-0 lead over visiting
Sweden in a best-of-five opening-round Davis Cup affair.
World No. 9 Janko Tipsarevic handled unheralded Swede Filip Prpic 6-3, 6-3,
6-4 and 22nd-ranked Viktor Troicki got past Michael Ryderstedt 6-4, 6-3, 5-7,
6-3 Friday on the indoor hardcourt at Hala Cair.
Serbia can clinch a victory here on Saturday when its doubles tandem of
Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic takes on a Swedish duo of Johan Brunstrom and
Robert Lindstedt.
Djokovic, along with Serbian captain Bogdan Obradovic, decided that the
reigning Australian Open, U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion should rest this
week following the No. 1's most recent championship run in Melbourne.
The Serbia-Sweden winner will meet the Czech Republic-Italy victor in the
quarterfinals in April.
Serbia captured the Davis Cup title two years ago, while Sweden, captained by
Thomas Enqvist, owns seven championships, but none since 1998.
The Serbs defeated the Swedes, 4-1, in the quarterfinals last year.
The Sports Network