Raucous home support for holders Argentina did not make up for the absence of Juan Martin del Potro and Federico Delbonis on Friday as they fell 2-0 behind to Italy in the first round of the Davis Cup.
Croatia, runners-up last year, were without their top man Marin Cilic but managed to end the opening singles level 1-1 with a Spanish team lacking Rafa Nadal after Franko Skugor upset Pablo Carreno Busta over five sets.
Only Serbia, champions in 2010 and facing Russia at home in Nis, had the services of a top 10 player in Novak Djokovic and they took a 2-0 lead.
Djokovic, who readjusted his start to the season after a shock early exit from the Australian Open, had a scare when he dropped the first set to Daniil Medvedev but prevailed 3-6 6-4 6-1 1-0 when the young Russian retired.
Viktor Troicki had earlier beaten Karen Khachanov 6-4 6-7(3) 6-3 1-6 7-6(6).
Del Potro, like most of tennis’s leading men, had announced before the season began he would not be available for the opening round of the World Group.
This left top seeds Argentina, a British team without Andy Murray and the Swiss minus Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka vulnerable to defeat.
ELIMINATION DANGER
Argentina won away in every round last year, but in Buenos Aires Guido Pella lost 6-3 6-3 6-3 to Paolo Lorenzi and Andreas Seppi beat Carlos Berlocq 6-1 6-2 1-6 7-6(6) to leave the holders on the brink of elimination.
"For the first time I felt uncomfortable playing the Davis Cup," Pella, who had last helped Argentina upset Britain in the 2016 semi-final in Glasgow, told reporters.
Croatian Skugor, ranked nearly 200 places below Carreno Busta, won 3-6 6-3 6-4 4-6 7-6(6) in just over four hours in Osijek before Spain recovered with Roberto Bautista Agut’s 6-4 6-2 6-3 win over Ante Pavic.
France will go into Saturday’s doubles 2-0 up against a Japanese team without Kei Nishikori after three-set wins for Richard Gasquet and Gilles Simon in Tokyo.
Talented German teenager Alexander Zverev won his first Davis Cup point when he beat Belgian debutant Arthur de Greef 6-3 6-3 6-4 to level their tie at 1-1 in Frankfurt.
Earlier, Steve Darcis had come back from 3-0 down in the fifth set to beat Phillip Kohlschreiber 6-4 3-6 2-6 7-6(2) 7-6(5).
Britain, facing a Canada team without Milos Raonic in Ottawa, made a good start when Dan Evans beat Denis Shapalov 6-3 6-3 6-4 but Vasek Pospisil hit back to level the tie with a 6-4 6-1 7-6(3) win over Kyle Edmund.
Jack Sock put the United States on the front foot against Switzerland by beating Marco Chiudinelli 6-4 6-3 6-1 in the first rubber.
Big-serving John Isner later put down Henri Laaksonen 4-6 6-2 6-2 7-6(1) to double the 32-times champions' lead, the American serving up his 500th ace on Davis Cup duty in the process.
"Jack did a really great job and took the pressure off me," said Isner. "We're going to come out here tomorrow and try and finish it off."
Late night Friday in Alabama bumps into Saturday morning Down Under and soon after Isner closed day one in Birmingham, Australia became the first team into the quarter-finals when they took an unassailable 3-0 lead over the Czech Republic.
Debutant Jordan Thompson and Nick Kyrgios had given the 28-times champions a 2-0 lead with singles victories at Kooyong on Friday and Sam Groth and John Peers defeated Jan Satral and Jiri Vesely 6-3 6-2 6-2 in the doubles to seal the win.
Reuters
Sat Feb 04 2017
![Argentina on brink of early exit, Australia through Argentina on brink of early exit, Australia through](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-02/41486184951_DavisCupSemiFinal.jpg)
Great Britain's Jamie Murray, Andy Murray, Argentina's Leonardo Mayer and Federico Delbonis pose after the draw, Sept 15, 2016. Action Images via REUTERS / Andrew Boyers Livepic
![Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan? Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan?](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/61718169354_TBKimPanGon.jpg)
Kim Pan-gon letak jawatan?
Kim Pan-gon dipercayai akan mengadakan sidang akhbar hari ini untuk mengumumkan peletakan jawatannya.
AWANI Ringkas: Syor ambil guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura jadi tumpuan
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
![Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721098519_suspekbunuhNurFar.jpg)
Suspek kes kematian Nur Farah Kartini direman tujuh hari
Perintah reman terhadap suspek lelaki berusia 26 tahun itu dikeluarkan Hakim Nurul Mardhiah Mohammed Redza.
KPM teliti cadangan sukarelawan Guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura
Sukarelawan berbentuk hubungan diplomasi yang dibiayai kerajaan Singapura bagi bantu tingkatkan penguasaan bahasa Inggeris murid di kawasan miskin bandar dan luar bandar, kata Menteri Pendidikan.
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
#AWANInews #SisiTVParlimen
Niaga AWANI: [Pasca IPO] Apa hala tuju Johor Plantations Group?
Johor Plantations Group (JPG) memperoleh RM735 juta daripada penyenaraiannya di pasaran utama Bursa Malaysia sejak 9 Julai lalu. Bagaimanakah pelan JPG untuk terus berdaya saing pada masa hadapan?
Impact of cloud complexity on cybersecurity risk and AI's role in this mix
Organizations who are adopting multi-cloud or hybrid cloud environments are having to navigate new complexities that emerge as they expand on cloud. As these cloud environments lead to the expansion of attack surfaces, a global survey conducted by Gigamon found that 93% of IT and security leaders predict cloud security attacks will increase this year.
[Data & Statistik] Prestasi Bursa Malaysia setakat 16 Julai 2024
Jumlah dagangan meningkat kepada 5.36 bilion unit bernilai RM3.95 bilion daripada 4.58 bilion unit bernilai RM3.72 bilion pada Jumaat.
[Data & Statistik] Kedudukan MYR berbanding SGD setakat 16 Julai 2024
Niaga AWANI bawakan prestasi terkini prestasi MYR berbanding SGD.
[Data & Statistik] Prestasi ringgit setakat 16 Julai 2024
Ketua Ahli Ekonomi Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd Dr Mohd Afzanizam Abdul Rashid berkata walaupun ringgit merosot, kontrak niaga hadapan Dana Fed menunjukkan bahawa penurunan kadar faedah mungkin akan berlaku pada September depan.
![Sekurang-kurangnya 4 maut, insiden tembakan di masjid di Oman Sekurang-kurangnya 4 maut, insiden tembakan di masjid di Oman](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721096727_RoyalOmanPolice.jpg)
Sekurang-kurangnya 4 maut, insiden tembakan di masjid di Oman
Beberapa orang turut cedera akibat terkena tembakan di sekitar masjid di Wadi al-Kabir, Muscat.
![Final Copa America: Penyokong Colombia ceroboh stadium macam tikus, ikut sistem pengudaraan Final Copa America: Penyokong Colombia ceroboh stadium macam tikus, ikut sistem pengudaraan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721016283_People.jpg)
Final Copa America: Penyokong Colombia ceroboh stadium macam tikus, ikut sistem pengudaraan
Kelihatan penyokong Colombia yang tidak memiliki tiket cuba masuk ke dalam stadium menerusi sistem pengudaraan stadium.
![Final Copa America: Sepak mula perlawanan ditunda 30 minit ekoran masalah di luar stadium Final Copa America: Sepak mula perlawanan ditunda 30 minit ekoran masalah di luar stadium](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721004183_CopaAmerica.jpg)
Final Copa America: Sepak mula perlawanan ditunda 30 minit ekoran masalah di luar stadium
CONMEBOL mengumumkan, sepak mula ditangguhkan selama 30 minit hingga 8:30 pagi waktu Malaysia.
![Copa America: Scaloni pertahan tindakan pemain Uruguay, risau keselamatan aksi final Copa America: Scaloni pertahan tindakan pemain Uruguay, risau keselamatan aksi final](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720931583_DarwinNunez.jpg)
Copa America: Scaloni pertahan tindakan pemain Uruguay, risau keselamatan aksi final
Lionel Scaloni, berkata, dia memahami reaksi pemain Uruguay yang menceroboh di tempat penonton untuk melindungi ahli keluarga mereka selepas separuh akhir Copa America antara Uruguay dan Colombia.
![Messi harap Di Maria ledak gol sebelum bersara Messi harap Di Maria ledak gol sebelum bersara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51720930682_AngelDiMaria.jpg)
Messi harap Di Maria ledak gol sebelum bersara
Lionel Messi berharap Angel Di Maria menamatkan karier antarabangsanya dengan menjaringkan gol dalam perlawanan akhir Copa America menentang Colombia pada Isnin.
![Copa America: Argentina rehatkan Lionel Messi jumpa Peru Copa America: Argentina rehatkan Lionel Messi jumpa Peru](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/51719647184_LionelMessi.jpg)
Copa America: Argentina rehatkan Lionel Messi jumpa Peru
LIONEL Messi akan direhatkan sempena pertemuan Argentina dengan Peru dalam Copa America, pagi esok, sementara hukuman penggantungan menafikan kelibat ketua jurulatih, Lionel Scaloni, di tepi padang.
![Copa America: Lionel Messi bersederhana sambut hari jadi ke-37 Copa America: Lionel Messi bersederhana sambut hari jadi ke-37](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-01/61705371542_TBMessijpg.jpg)
Copa America: Lionel Messi bersederhana sambut hari jadi ke-37
Lionel Scaloni bersimpati dengan Lionel Messi selepas dia akan menghabiskan satu lagi hari kelahirannya jauh dari kampung halaman.
![Messi tidak pasti mengenai penyertaan Piala Dunia 2026 Messi tidak pasti mengenai penyertaan Piala Dunia 2026](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/41717822700_TBMessi.jpg)
Messi tidak pasti mengenai penyertaan Piala Dunia 2026
Lionel Messi telah menimbulkan keraguan mengenai peluangnya untuk bermain di kejohanan utama ke-13 untuk Argentina pada Piala Dunia 2026.
![Warga Venezuela di Argentina protes tuntut pilihan raya bebas Warga Venezuela di Argentina protes tuntut pilihan raya bebas](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41712447615_Venezuelansprotest.jpg)
Warga Venezuela di Argentina protes tuntut pilihan raya bebas
Puluhan migran Venezuela yang menetap di Argentina berarak di Buenos Aires bagi menyuarakan rasa tidak puas hati terhadap Presiden Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro serta menuntut pilihan raya bebas.
![Saya telah menang semuanya - Messi Saya telah menang semuanya - Messi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-12/41701488494_Messi.jpg)
Saya telah menang semuanya - Messi
Messi sudah berjaya menjulang pelbagai trofi sepanjang kariernya dan mengakui sudah rasa cukup dengan pencapaian yang diraihnya itu.
![Hujan lebat berterusan, Buenos Aires keluar amaran tahap oren Hujan lebat berterusan, Buenos Aires keluar amaran tahap oren](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/51710975957_heavyrainsBuenos.jpg)
Hujan lebat berterusan, Buenos Aires keluar amaran tahap oren
Perkhidmatan Meteorologi Kebangsaan (SMN) mengeluarkan amaran pada tahap oren berikutan ribut akibat hujan lebat di kawasan metropolitan Buenos Aires pada Rabu.