<p id="thickbox_headline">Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic lost a dramatic deciding tie-break in their doubles rubber as Serbia suffered a shock defeat by Germany in the Davis Cup Finals, while Daniil Medvedev helped the Russian Tennis Federation to an opening win.</p>.<p>World number one Djokovic had drawn Serbia level in their second group-stage tie by beating Jan-Lennard Struff after Filip Krajinovic's loss to Dominik Koepfer.</p>.<p>But the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion and Cacic slipped to a 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) defeat by Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, who got over the line on their third match point in Innsbruck.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/tsitsipas-posts-image-of-him-in-hospital-with-heavily-bandaged-arm-1055114.html" target="_blank">Tsitsipas posts image of him in hospital with heavily-bandaged arm </a></strong></p>.<p>The matches in Austria are being played behind closed doors due to new coronavirus restrictions in the country.</p>.<p>Germany will qualify for the quarter-finals from Group F if they can beat Austria on Sunday, which would leave Serbia waiting to see if they progress as one of the two best runners-up.</p>.<p>Djokovic is hoping to cap a brilliant season, which saw him only miss out on a calendar Grand Slam with defeat by Medvedev in the US Open final, by helping his country win the Davis Cup for the first time since 2010.</p>.<p>The Russians, among the title favourites, made a perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador.</p>.<p>World number five Andrey Rublev overcame a second-set blip against 291st-ranked Roberto Quiroz to win 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the opening rubber in Madrid.</p>.<p>Medvedev then ensured his team would win the tie by thrashing Emilio Gomez 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour.</p>.<p>Gomez was given a huge cheer by the crowd when he finally got on the board in the eighth game.</p>.<p>"I was ready for it," said the world number two. "I wanted to keep it clean from the first to the last point of the match.</p>.<p>"I'm really happy to bring a point to the team."</p>.<p>Rublev and Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev completed the whitewash by taking the doubles rubber against Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.</p>.<p>Italy became the first team to reach the last eight, backing up their win over the United States by seeing off Colombia to wrap up top spot in Group E.</p>.<p>Lorenzo Sonego fought back to edge out Nicolas Mejia 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2, before Jannik Sinner brushed aside Daniel Elahi Galan 7-5, 6-0.</p>.<p>Earlier, British number one Cameron Norrie completed success against France in the second singles rubber, beating Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-6 (10/8) in Britain's first tie.</p>.<p>Norrie, ranked 12 in the world, trailed 4-1 in the tie-break before rebounding to secure a match point at 6-5.</p>.<p>The 71st-ranked Rinderknech saved it but then let two set points slip before Norrie took the rubber on his second match point.</p>.<p>"For me, it's unbelievable to be back on the team playing for my country," said Norrie, who was playing just his third Davis Cup tie.</p>.<p>"It is also nice to prove myself again, to keep the pressure on and keep playing big matches."</p>.<p>Rinderknech then helped Mahut keep their slim hopes alive of securing one of the two best runner-up spots by outclassing Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-1, 6-4.</p>.<p>Dan Evans had earlier given Britain a great start by beating Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-4.</p>.<p>Kazakhstan could be surprise quarter-finalists, if they beat a much-weakened Canada team on Sunday, after pulling off a 2-1 win over Sweden.</p>.<p>The Swedish singles duo of brothers Elias and Mikael Ymer looked on course to win their second successive match after disposing of Canada 3-0 in the opener.</p>.<p>Elias eased past Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).</p>.<p>Younger brother Mikael was looking well poised at a set up and 4-4 in the second against the talented but unpredictable Alexander Bublik.</p>.<p>The world number 36, though, roused himself and produced some stunning tennis to reel off the next six games and take the rubber.</p>.<p>The Kazakhs completed their come-from-behind victory as Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov breezed past Andre Goransson and Robert Lindstedt 6-3, 6-3.</p>.<p>Australia are all but out of the competition despite a battling 2-1 win against Hungary.</p>
<p id="thickbox_headline">Novak Djokovic and Nikola Cacic lost a dramatic deciding tie-break in their doubles rubber as Serbia suffered a shock defeat by Germany in the Davis Cup Finals, while Daniil Medvedev helped the Russian Tennis Federation to an opening win.</p>.<p>World number one Djokovic had drawn Serbia level in their second group-stage tie by beating Jan-Lennard Struff after Filip Krajinovic's loss to Dominik Koepfer.</p>.<p>But the 20-time Grand Slam singles champion and Cacic slipped to a 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) defeat by Kevin Krawietz and Tim Puetz, who got over the line on their third match point in Innsbruck.</p>.<p><strong>Read more: <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/tsitsipas-posts-image-of-him-in-hospital-with-heavily-bandaged-arm-1055114.html" target="_blank">Tsitsipas posts image of him in hospital with heavily-bandaged arm </a></strong></p>.<p>The matches in Austria are being played behind closed doors due to new coronavirus restrictions in the country.</p>.<p>Germany will qualify for the quarter-finals from Group F if they can beat Austria on Sunday, which would leave Serbia waiting to see if they progress as one of the two best runners-up.</p>.<p>Djokovic is hoping to cap a brilliant season, which saw him only miss out on a calendar Grand Slam with defeat by Medvedev in the US Open final, by helping his country win the Davis Cup for the first time since 2010.</p>.<p>The Russians, among the title favourites, made a perfect start to their campaign with a 3-0 victory over Ecuador.</p>.<p>World number five Andrey Rublev overcame a second-set blip against 291st-ranked Roberto Quiroz to win 6-3, 4-6, 6-1 in the opening rubber in Madrid.</p>.<p>Medvedev then ensured his team would win the tie by thrashing Emilio Gomez 6-0, 6-2 in under an hour.</p>.<p>Gomez was given a huge cheer by the crowd when he finally got on the board in the eighth game.</p>.<p>"I was ready for it," said the world number two. "I wanted to keep it clean from the first to the last point of the match.</p>.<p>"I'm really happy to bring a point to the team."</p>.<p>Rublev and Australian Open semi-finalist Aslan Karatsev completed the whitewash by taking the doubles rubber against Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo 6-4, 4-6, 6-4.</p>.<p>Italy became the first team to reach the last eight, backing up their win over the United States by seeing off Colombia to wrap up top spot in Group E.</p>.<p>Lorenzo Sonego fought back to edge out Nicolas Mejia 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-2, before Jannik Sinner brushed aside Daniel Elahi Galan 7-5, 6-0.</p>.<p>Earlier, British number one Cameron Norrie completed success against France in the second singles rubber, beating Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 7-6 (10/8) in Britain's first tie.</p>.<p>Norrie, ranked 12 in the world, trailed 4-1 in the tie-break before rebounding to secure a match point at 6-5.</p>.<p>The 71st-ranked Rinderknech saved it but then let two set points slip before Norrie took the rubber on his second match point.</p>.<p>"For me, it's unbelievable to be back on the team playing for my country," said Norrie, who was playing just his third Davis Cup tie.</p>.<p>"It is also nice to prove myself again, to keep the pressure on and keep playing big matches."</p>.<p>Rinderknech then helped Mahut keep their slim hopes alive of securing one of the two best runner-up spots by outclassing Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski 6-1, 6-4.</p>.<p>Dan Evans had earlier given Britain a great start by beating Adrian Mannarino 7-5, 6-4.</p>.<p>Kazakhstan could be surprise quarter-finalists, if they beat a much-weakened Canada team on Sunday, after pulling off a 2-1 win over Sweden.</p>.<p>The Swedish singles duo of brothers Elias and Mikael Ymer looked on course to win their second successive match after disposing of Canada 3-0 in the opener.</p>.<p>Elias eased past Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (7/4).</p>.<p>Younger brother Mikael was looking well poised at a set up and 4-4 in the second against the talented but unpredictable Alexander Bublik.</p>.<p>The world number 36, though, roused himself and produced some stunning tennis to reel off the next six games and take the rubber.</p>.<p>The Kazakhs completed their come-from-behind victory as Andrey Golubev and Aleksandr Nedovyesov breezed past Andre Goransson and Robert Lindstedt 6-3, 6-3.</p>.<p>Australia are all but out of the competition despite a battling 2-1 win against Hungary.</p>