体坛英语新闻：Russia start Davis Cup with win over reigning Champions, Croatia

MADRID, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia won their opening tie of the Davis Cup with a 3-0 victory over reigning Champions, Croatia on the first day of competition in the new-look tournament which is being held in Madrid.

The tennis' national team tournament is now being played over seven days in Madrid with 16 teams divided into six groups in the first stage, before the quarter finals, semi-finals and the final at the end of the week.

The Russians got off to a flying start as Andrey Rublev defeated Borna Gojo 6-3, 6-3 on the hard-court surface which had been laid in Madrid's 'Caja Magica' venue.

Although Croatia's Borna Coric started well against Karen Khachanov, winning the first set on a tiebreak, Khachanov battled back to win the second and third sets to claim a 6-7, 6-4, 6-4 win.

Khachanov and Rublev then showed their stamina with a 7-6, 6-4 victory over Ivan Dodig and Nikola Mektic in the doubles.

Belgium also got off to a winning start as they defeated Colombia 2-1 in the first tie in Group D, with Steve Darcius enjoying a comfortable 6-3, 6-2 win over Santiago Giraldo, before David Goffin hard to work harder before finally defeating Daniel Elahi Galan 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.

The Colombian duo of Juan-Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah then defeated the Belgians 6-7, 6-4, 7-6 to claim what could still be an important triumph for their team.

The Canadian team also got off to a winning start, but although they also had a 2-0 win over Italy, the Canadians had to dig deep with Vasek Pospisil defeating Fabio Fognini 7-6 (1), 7-5, before Denis Shapovalov beat Matteo Berrettini 7-6, 6-7, 7-6.