Djokovic fireworks brings Serbia level with France

World number three Novak Djokovic fired a blistering 62 winners to defeat Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 yesterday and pull Serbia level at 1-1 after the opening day of the Davis Cup final against France.

Djokovic clinched his sixth singles win in six outings this year in the tournament as Serbia, backed by a noisy, passionate crowd at the Belgrade Arena kept their dream of a first Davis Cup title on track.

Gael Monfils had earlier handed nine-time champions France a 1-0 lead with a 6-1, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 victory over Janko Tipsarevic.

Djokovic was always in control against world number 42 Simon, who had been handed the second French singles berth in the absence of injured Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and wrapped up the rubber after 2hr 18min on a fourth match point.

“It was really difficult. I had to stay in touch for as long as possible and there was a big game at 3-3 in the first set,” said Simon, who has now lost to Djokovic six times in seven meetings.

“He was playing really well, he made a lot of first serves and there weren’t many unforced errors. I didn’t get a lot of chances today.”

Monfils, the French number one who is ranked 12th in the world, displayed none of the nerves he feared would emerge in the opening rubber of France’s campaign for a 10th crown.

In spite of a cold, the 24-year-old Parisian instead displayed composure in front of the largely partisan crowd as he sailed through the first set, handled a more determined charge from Tipsarevic in the second and dominated the third as his opponent crumbled.

Monfils admitted Tipsarevic’s shaky start, which included two double faults, helped settle his own nerves: “I got into the match straight away and that helped settle me,” he said.

“I’m really happy with the result. Janko started off with two double faults, and straight away I saw that he was tense. That helped me to relax a little.”

Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement will represent France in today’s doubles encounter when they meet Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki while the reverse singles will be tomorrow.