Serbia tops USA, Great Britain out

World number two Novak Djokovic outlasted John Isner 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 on Sunday to give Serbia an unbeatable 3-1 lead against the Americans. In the dead rubber, Sam Querrey beat Viktor Troicki 7-5, 6-2 to score a belated point for the visitors.

Djokovic withstood 24 aces to beat the towering Isner, and claimed a gritty victory in four hours and 16 minutes. With Djokovic's victory, Serbia is through to a Davis Cup quarterfinal clash against Croatia, after they outclassed Ecuador 5-0.

It is the first time since 2005 the Americans have been eliminated in the first round, but Captain Patrick McEnroe was proud of his team’s effort.

"We came up a little short but I think we have a lot to look forward to in U.S. tennis," U.S. captain Patrick McEnroe told daviscup.com.

"John had just an incredible three days of tennis. To make Novak Djokovic battle for five sets the whole way was just an awesome effort."

Great Britain fell to an embarrassing Davis Cup defeat to Lithuania in the Seb Arena, Vilnius. World number 252 Dan Evans lost 6-7(6) 7-5 6-0 2-6 6-4 to Laurynas Grigelis in the decisive singles match to hand the home team a 3-2 victory.

Britain began the day with a 2-1 lead, but it began in disappointing fashion as James Ward lost 7-6(4) 6-3 6-4 to 198th ranked Ricardas Berankis.

Great Britain must now beat Turkey, who lost to Ireland, in a relegation play-off in July. The loser of that tie will drop into Europe/Africa Zone Group III, the lowest tier of the competition.
Ireland's Davis Cup team completed an impressive 4-1 win over Turkey at the Fitzwilliam Club in Dublin on Sunday.

Turkey made a good start on the final day, with Marsel Ilhan defeating James McGee 6-2 6-4 to earn a point for the visitors. The final singles contest saw Barry King record another victory for the home team as he overcame Baris Erguden 7-5 3-6 6-2.
Ireland now faces Lithuania in the next round of the Europe/Africa Group play-off in July.

Canada was defeated 4-1 by Columbia in Bogota on Sunday after world number 93 Santiago Giraldo won the fourth rubber against Steven Diez 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. Juan-Sebastian Cabal defeated Milos Raonic 6-7(6), 6-3, 6-4 in the fifth rubber to end a miserable weekend for the visitors.
Colombia needed one more victory to claim the tie after entering the day leading 2-1. It will now advance to a playoff, with a chance of qualifying for the 16-nation World Group in 2011.
Canada will now play a second-round play-off tie in September to keep their place in Americas Zone Group I for 2011.

New Zealand began the long trek back to top-level Asia-Oceania tennis with a 3-2 Davis Cup group II win over Sri Lanka in Colombo on Sunday.
Leading 2-1 going into the final day, Harshana Godamanna beat Daniel King-Turner after the 25-year-old withdrew from the match in the fifth set. Body cramps hit King-Turner and he was forced to retire at 0-3 down.
But Jose Statham, the world number 297, had little difficulty in wrapping up the tie for the New Zealander’s with a 6-1 6-0 7-5 win over Rajeev Rajapakse in two hours.
New Zealand now faces Pakistan, who beat Hong Kong in their first round meeting.

Mark Skendaris