Madrid, November 21: World No. 2 Novak Djokovic, who had a disappointing performance last week at the ATP Finals, helped Serbia get off to an unbeaten start against Japan at the ongoing Davis Cup Finals. On Wednesday, Djokovic beat Yoshihito Nishioka 6-1, 6-2 to clinch the win after Filip Krajinovic beat Yuichi Sugita 6-2, 6-4. The Serbian wrapped up the contest in just one hour and seven minutes when one last potent first serve forced a return error. In doubles, Viktor Troicki/Janko Tipsarevic gave Serbia the 3-0 win with a 7-6(5), 7-6(4) victory against Yasutaka Uchiyama/Ben McLachlan. Rafael Nadal Goes Down Memory Lane, Shares Video That Will Make Rafa Fans Nostalgic.

Japan, meanwhile, has been eliminated from tennis's premier international team competition following losses in both of their round-robin matches in Group A. Three-time Grand Slam singles champion Andy Murray, playing in his first Davis Cup match since 2016, came back from 1/4 down in the deciding-set tie-break to help Great Britain beat the Netherlands 2-1. Murray defeated Tallon Griekspoor 6-7(7), 6-4, 7-6(5). Dutchman Robin Haase beat Daniel Evans 3-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 and in doubles, Neal Skupski/Jamie Murray gave Great Britain the victory with a 6-4, 7-6(6) win against Wesley Koolhof/Jean-Julien Rojer.  Davis Cup 2019 Finals: Rafael Nadal Beats Karen Khachanov; Canada Enter Quarter Finals.

Spain booked their place in the quarter-finals as Roberto Bautista Agut and World No. 1 Rafael Nadal didn't drop a set against Croatia. Bautista Agut dismissed Nikola Mektic 6-1, 6-3 and Nadal beat Borna Gojo 6-4, 6-3. Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff beat Argentina's Diego Schwartzman 6-3, 7-6(8) to help the Germans earn the 3-0 sweep. Struff hit 12 aces and won 80 percent of his first-serve points. Philipp Kohlschreiber also won, beating Guido Pella 1-6, 6-3, 6-4 and in doubles ATP Finals qualifiers Kevin Krawietz/Andreas Mies beat Leonardo Mayer/Maximo Gonzalez 6-7(4), 7-6(2), 7-6(18).

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 21, 2019 10:37 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).