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

Novak Djokovic edged towering American John Isner in a five-set thriller to help Serbia advance past the U.S.
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
Rahul Vaidyanath
Updated:
<a><img src="https://www.theepochtimes.com/assets/uploads/2015/09/Djokovic97511290.jpg" alt="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)" title="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)" width="320" class="size-medium wp-image-1822382"/></a>
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.
Rahul Vaidyanath
Rahul Vaidyanath
Journalist
Rahul Vaidyanath is a journalist with The Epoch Times in Ottawa. His areas of expertise include the economy, financial markets, China, and national defence and security. He has worked for the Bank of Canada, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., and investment banks in Toronto, New York, and Los Angeles.
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