NIS, Serbia (AP) — Serbia took a 2-0 lead over Sweden in the first round of the Davis Cup on Friday after Janko Tipsarevic defeated Filip Prpic and Viktor Troicki beat Michael Ryderstedt.
The ninth-ranked Tipsarevic had 11 aces and converted four of five break points to beat Prpic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in the best-of-five World Group series.
Prpic failed to take any of his five break chances. Prpic is ranked No. 1,426, but Tipsarevic says “the rankings don’t do him justice.”
Troicki downed Ryderstedt 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 after missing his chance to finish the match in the third set, when he broke serve for a 4-2 lead.
Serbia, which beat Sweden 4-1 last season, is playing without top-ranked Novak Djokovic, who is resting after winning the Australian Open.
