Lajovic and a devastating Djokovic give Serbia the first victory

Serbia achieved this Friday in Innsbruck the first victory of the 2021 Davis Cup Finals against Austria thanks to the triumph of Dusan Lajovic in three sets (7-6 (5), 3-6 and 7-5) against Gerald Melzer, number three of the local team that acted as two and which is 287th in the ATP ranking, since the beating that Novak Djokovic later endorsed Dennis Novak in less than an hour (6-3 and 6-2). The doubles, to which Djokovic himself was aimed, but who finally did not play alongside Filip Krajinovic (Nikola Cacic will), put the finishing touch to the first commitment of the Serbs with a victory against Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald (7- 6 (4), 4-6 and 6-3).

Lajovic (33rd), who did not play a single game in the 2019 edition, was able to contain the enthusiasm of his rival, motivated even though he could not receive public support (There it is played behind closed doors by a severe COVID protocol). Dusan, who extends his positive balance in the tournament to 11-8, made life difficult in the second set, after having a bad time to get the first one, but in the third set he recovered to add his first and only break, although he had to add another to close an important triumph. Then it was Djokovic’s turn to act, and the world ranking leader was a tsunami that engulfed Novak, especially from the break he got to get to 5-3 and serve in the first round. He won six games in a row and what was given was over. “It makes me feel very good to compete again for Serbia. The Davis Cup, a historic team competition, is missed. I love playing for my country. It’s been a long year, but this motivates me a lot, “said Nole, who made only three unforced errors.

Austria, who couldn’t count on Dominic Thiem (coming off injury) and have won six of their last seven Davis ties, it is difficult for him to advance in the competition. While Serbia hopes to reach the quarterfinals for the second year in a row and fight for their second title with Viktor Troicki, who played in 2019, as captain.

Italy takes revenge on the United States

In Turin, Italy gave their fans the first joy of the Finals with the victory against the United States, thanks to the victories in singles of Lorenzo Sonego against the always difficult serving giant Reilly Opelka (6-3 and 7-6 (4) ) and Jannik Sinner against John Isner (6-2 and 6-0). The 24-year-old and 271st from Turin, who had been nominated in the 2019 and 2020 qualifying rounds but did not play, debuted at Davis with a convincing victory thanks to a break in the first set and his mental stamina in the second to take him in the tiebreaker. Sinner passed over after another tennis player of great physical and tennis height, which only lasted 62 minutes. The number ten in the world also premiered and it did not disappoint at all. Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Musetti could not put the icing on the cake in the doubles against Rajeev Ram and Jack Sock, who won 7-6 (5) and 6-2.

The rematch of the series that the United States won two years ago at the Caja Mágica, ends with the triumph of the transalpine team, who had to earn a place in qualifying against the Republic of Korea. Now he aspires to get into the quarterfinals for the first time since 2018 and fight, as one of the favorites, for his second Salad Bowl (the only one he owns, he won it in 1976).

Davis Cup results.