Querrey, Isner lead U.S. to fast Davis Cup start in Serbia

[February 03, 2018]  The United States got off to a solid start against Serbia in Davis Cup play Friday, with Sam Querrey powering through Laslo Djere 6-7, 6-2, 7-5, 6-4 in Rubber 1 while teammate John Isner beat Dusan Lajovic 6-4, 6-7, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4) while in Nis, Serbia.

Querrey, 12th in the ATP rankings, needed three hours, two minutes to get by the 88th-ranked Djere on the indoor clay surface at Sportski Centar Cair. Querrey pounded down 20 aces to 11 for Djere with Querrey's first serve averaging 129 mph in the match.

Isner, ranked 18th had a tougher time against Lajovic, 84th, but again the American's power was critical with Isner posting 24 aces to his opponent's nine, but 49 unforced errors were nearly Isner's undoing, though Lajovic never got a game up in the final set.

The meeting with Serbia is the third ever for the United States, with Serbia winning on clay in Belgrade in 2010 and on hard courts in Boise, Idaho in 2013. Novak Djokovic was the catalyst behind both Serbian wins and each time the country made it the finals, beating France in 2010 and losing to the Czech Republic in 2013.

For Canada, the going wasn't as easy.

While 48th-ranked Canadian Denis Shapovalov dismantled Viktor Galovic of Croatia 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 in under two hours, the day started off with a loss with Borna Coric taking down Vasek Pospisil 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2 on the clay surface at Sportska Dvorana Gradski Vrt in Osijek, Croatia.

 

It's the first meeting between the countries.

Saturday's rubbers are doubles affairs across the eight World Group ties this weekend, which conclude Sunday with reverse singles matches.

Ryan Harrison and Steve Johnson of the U.S. will face off against Nikola Milojevic and Miljan Zekic of Serbia.

Daniel Nestor and Pospisil will lead Canada against Croatia's Ivan Dodig and Franko Skugar.

In other first-day action, defending champion France and Netherlands split 1-1, as did Japan vs. Italy, Spain vs. Great Britain and Australia vs. Germany. Kazakhstan joined the U.S at 2-0 by sweeping Switzerland and last year's runner-up, Belgium, started perfect against Hungary.

--Field Level Media

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