BIRMINGHAM — Andy Murray got Great Britain's Davis Cup defense off to the best possible start with a straight sets win over Japan's Taro Daniel here Friday.
The world NO. 2 put the titleholder 1-0 up in the World Group first round tie with a comfortable 6-1, 6-3, 6-1 defeat of the 157th-ranked opponent.
The second singles match Friday will be between Japan's world No. 6 Kei Nishikori and Dan Evans, who was only selected to play after Kyle Edmund failed to overcome a back injury.
This was the Scot's first match since losing to Novak Djokovic in last month's Australian Open final, opting instead to spend time with new daughter Sophia, born on Feb. 7, and wife Kim Sears.
Djokovic gives Serbia early lead
Novak Djokovic won the first point for Serbia against Kazakhstan in their Davis Cup first-round tie by defeating Aleksandr Nedovyesov 6-1, 6-2, 6-3 in Belgrade Friday.
Serbia No. 2 Viktor Troicki plays Mikhail Kukushkin in the second singles on the indoor hard-court in Belgrade.
Germany one up vs. Czechs
Philipp Kohlschreiber defeated Lukas Rosol 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 to give Germany a 1-0 lead over the Czech Republic in their Davis Cup first-round tie Friday.
Tomas Berdych was aiming to level the tie against Germany's 18-year-old Davis Cup debutant, Alexander Zverev, later Friday.
The winner faces Canada or France in July's quarterfinals.
Tomic hits back
Bernard Tomic ground down Jack Sock 7-6(2), 6-3, 3-6, 6-4 to level Australia’s Davis Cup first round tie with the United States at 1-1 in Melbourne Friday.
The rangy world No. 20 hit back for the host after John Isner wrapped up the opening singles against Sam Groth 7-6(2), 6-2, 6-2 on a sweltering day at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club.
But former world No. 1 Hewitt, who replaced Nick Kyrgios after his withdrawal with a virus, could also play, despite retiring at the Australian Open six weeks ago.
China leads Pakistan 2-0
China Friday secured a 2-0 lead in a Davis Cup tie against Pakistan, winning both matches on day one at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts.
China’s Zhang Ze beat Aqil Khan convincingly 6-4, 6-2 and 6-2 in the opening match of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tie in Sri Lankan capital Colombo.
In the second match, China’s Wu Di beat Aqil’s younger brother Yasir 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.
Svitolina, Bouchard in semis
Second seed Elina Svitolina reached the semifinals of the Malaysian Open Friday after knocking out Slovakian Kristina Kucova.
Despite a shaky start, the 21-year-old Ukrainian managed to storm past Kucova 1-6, 6-1, 6-1 in the quarterfinals.
Third seed Sabine Lisicki of Germany crashed out of the competition after failing to outpace Briton's 26-year-old Naomi Broady.
Broady, ranked 96th in the world, dispatched Lisicki 7-6 (7/4), 1-6, 7-5 in a tough match that lasted more than two hours.
She will square off against sixth seed Eugenie Bouchard Saturday in the semifinals after the 22-year-old Canadian defeated Turkey's Cagla Buyukakcay 6-1, 6-4 in a match that was delayed by rain.
She had cruised to the quarter-finals after trashing Kurumi Nara from Japan 6-1, 6-2 Wednesday.
Meanwhile, China's Lin Zhu also advanced to the semifinals after beating her fellow countrywoman Qiang Wang 6-3, 6-4.
The Chinese player will meet Svitolina in the semifinals Saturday.
Baghdatis takes Borg’s record
Cyprus’ Marcos Baghdatis snatched Bjorn Borg’s long-standing record for the longest winning streak in Davis Cup singles Thursday when he notched up his 34th victory in a row.
Baghdatis, 30, reached the landmark by beating Andorra’s Jean-Baptiste Poux-Gautier in a Europe Zone Group III event being held in Estonia.
The Cypriot went past Borg’s mark of 33 straight singles victories, which was set from 1973-1980, in his 41st tie in the competition having made his debut in 2000.
Sharapova withdraws from Indian Wells
Former world No. 1 Maria Sharapova has withdrawn from this month’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California due to a persistent arm injury, the Russian said Thursday in a statement from tournament organizers.
The five-time Grand Slam champion has been troubled by her left forearm since the start of the year when she pulled out of an Australian Open warm-up tournament in Brisbane.
Sharapova lost to Serena Williams in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open in January and has not competed since.
In the absence of Sharapova, Colombia’s Mariana Duque-Marino moves into the main women’s draw at Indian Wells.
Serena is the top seed for the women’s event at the BNP Paribas Open, which will be played from March 9-20. — Agencies
