World number one Novak Djokovic kept Serbia alive in the Davis Cup semi-final match against Canada on Sunday by defeating Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2.
Raonic put up a strong fight against Djokovic in the first set, but his hopes took a major blow when he lost the tiebreak 7-1.
In the second set Djokovic took total command and convincingly made two service breaks.
The third set was similar as Djokovic grabbed another two breaks to lead 4-0 before Raonic, who defeated Janko Tipsarevic in an exhausting four-hour match on Friday, managed briefly to get back into the match with a break of his own. But Djokovic stepped up the pace again and broke on Raonic’s next serve.
Spain crush Ukraine
Marc Lopez and Fernando Verdasco both won reverse singles matches on Sunday to give Spain a 5-0 sweep of Ukraine in their World Group play-off.
Lopez beat Denys Molchanov 6-3, 6-3 before Verdasco dispatched Vladyslav Manafov 6-2, 6-1.
Lopez had paired with Rafael Nadal to win Saturday’s doubles match.
Japan make
top stage
World no. 12 Kei Nishikori banished his US Open demons to propel Japan back into the world group with a 3-2 comeback victory over Colombia on Sunday.
Nishikori overpowered Santiago Giraldo 6-1 6-2 6-4 to level the tie for the home team.
Teammate Go Soeda held his nerve to beat Alejandro Falla 4-6 6-4 6-3 6-3, triggering wild celebrations in Tokyo.
Ripping winners from all over the court, Nishikori ran Giraldo ragged as he tore through the two sets in just 56 minutes.
Andy guides Britain
Andy Murray secured Britain’s return to the World Group after a five-year absence when he defeated Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 at Umag on Sunday.
That made the match score 3-1 in Britain’s favour with just the second of the reverse singles to follow.
Wimbledon and Olympic champion Murray won his opening singles on Friday and teamed up with Colin Fleming to win the doubles on Saturday.