Djokovic, Serbia Dump U.S. Out of Davis Cup

Serbia's Novak Djokovic stays focused against John Isner of the U.S. in Davis Cup first round action on Sunday. (ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic, the world’s No. 2 tennis player, outlasted towering American John Isner in a five-set thriller on Sunday to guide Serbia into the Davis Cup World Group quarterfinals for the very first time.

Djokovic downed Isner in a match that took 4:16 to complete. Djokovic won 7–5, 3–6, 6–3, 6–7, 6–4. The win gave Serbia an insurmountable 3–1 lead in the best-of-five matchup.

Isner fired 24 aces against his highly ranked opponent. He fought off five match points before Djokovic won.

The indoor red clay surface in Belgrade, Serbia was always going to be a challenge for the Americans, but they performed extremely well.

The 6-foot-9 Isner, ranked No. 20, was playing in his first Davis Cup match. He lost a tight four-setter in his first match to 35th-ranked Viktor Troicki on Friday.

Sam Querrey then lost to Djokovic in four sets, putting the United States. in a deep hole before the team of Isner and Bob Bryan beat the Serbs in doubles on Saturday.

In the meaningless fifth rubber, Querrey defeated Troicki 7–5, 6–2.

Serbia moves on to face Croatia in the second round of the World Group. That hotly contested matchup will take place in early July.