Djokovic cruises at Swiss Indoors

Serbia are ecstatic after bagging three wins in three matches.

BASEL: Novak Djokovic led the way with a 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Ernests Gulbis as the bulk of Serbia’s Davis Cup squad made it to the second round of the Swiss Indoors.

World number three Djokovic had practised last week in Geneva with the Latvian and used the fresh experience on court to roll to victory, his third win out of the four matches in their series. Djokovic will now play one of two qualifiers - Daniel Brand of Germany and Finn Jarkko Nieminen - in the second round.

“It was a great day for us, three matches, three wins,” said Djokovic. “I had to find a good rhythm against Ernests, the first match is always difficult. I kept control over the match the entire time. Ernests can be a tricky player.”

Djokovic’s Davis Cup teammates Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki also advanced with only a month to go before Serbia host France in the December 3 Davis final in Belgrade. The Serbs are hoping to make history with an upset victory over the French. “We are all facing maybe the biggest matches of our lives,” said Troicki. “We are all so excited and it’s still a month away.”

Richard Gasquet of France eliminated Asia’s lone tournament representative as he defeated Yen-Hsun Lu of Taiwan 6-3, 6-1. Colombian Santiago Giraldo beat Karol Beck of Slovakia 6-2, 6-1.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2010.