Davis Cup: Novak Djokovic consolidates Serbia's early advantage against Belgium

Last Updated: February 1, 2013 11:02pm

World number one Novak Djokovic returned to action after his Australian Open triumph with a routine win over Olivier Rochus on the opening day of Serbia's Davis Cup first-round tie against Belgium in Charleroi.

Djokovic, who had been criticial of the claycourt being used at the Spiroudome in the build-up, prevailed 6-3 6-2 6-2 to put Serbia 2-0 up after Viktor Troicki had earlier come from two sets down to beat David Goffin in the opening rubber.

Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych brought the holders level at 1-1 against Switzerland in their first-round tie on an indoor hardcourt in Geneva.

World number six Berdych beat 289th-ranked Henri Laaksonen 6-3 6-2 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 after Stanislas Wawrinka had seen off Lukas Rosol 6-4 6-3 6-4 in the opener.

Wawrinka, the world number 17, is Switzerland's top-ranked player in the absence of Roger Federer.

Top 10 pair Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Richard Gasquet registered wins to put France 2-0 in front against Israel on an indoor hardcourt in Rouen.

Tsonga was a 6-3 6-3 4-6 7-5 victor against Amir Weintraub and Gasquet followed up with a 6-3 6-2 6-2 triumph over Israeli number one Dudi Sela, who is ranked 106 in the world.

Germany's hopes of beating Argentina in Buenos Aires suffered a blow when Philipp Kohlschreiber was forced to retire with a hamstring injury when serving for the match at 5-4 in the fifth set against Carlos Berlocq.

A later win for Juan Monaco over Florian Mayer meant Argentina ended the day 2-0 ahead.

Andreas Seppi brought Italy level at 1-1 against Croatia on the Turin indoor clay with a 6-2 6-7 (2/7) 6-4 6-4 win over Ivan Dodig. Marin Clic drew first blood for the visitors thanks to a 6-1 6-7 (6/8) 4-6 6-3 6-2 against Paolo Lorenzi.

In Astana, Andrey Golubev and Mikhail Kukushkin gave Kazahstan a 2-0 lead over Austria on indoor clay.

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