Davis Cup: Kyle Edmund wins to give GB 1-0 lead over Serbia in Belgrade

Kyle Edmund secured a superb straight-set win over Janko Tipsarevic to give Great Britain a 1-0 lead in their Davis Cup quarter-final against Serbia.

Rain interrupted the match in Belgrade, but it did not affect the 21-year-old's concentration as he beat the former world number eight 6-3 6-4 6-0.

Tipsarevic, who returned in April after two years out, struggled throughout.

James Ward will play Dusan Lajovic in the next singles rubber, which will start at 11:00 BST on Saturday.

Great Britain are defending the title they won in Belgium last year.

Edmund is leading the team, with Wimbledon champion Andy Murray in Belgrade only as a supporter.

The world number 67 proved himself to be a worthy stand-in and produced great power on his groundstrokes, reminiscent of Murray.

His forehand, in particular, was a weapon, as was his serve - winning points on 79% of his first serve, with Tipsarevic only managing 53%.

"To get us off to a good start was great," said Edmund. "Each set I really found my game. I was very pleased with my win.

"We played three games before it rained and I wanted to get the intensity high from the first game back after the break.

"I just tried to relax during the rain intervals. When you go back in it's almost a lull. I had some food and had a shower. It's not hard to switch on and off."

Team captain Leon Smith said the tie is "on a knife-edge", but added that Edmund's performance had given "everyone a huge amount of energy".

"We talk a lot about bravery and courage of conviction in how you go out and execute your shots - and watching Kyle at 21 do that gives everyone a big lift," Smith said.

Tipsarevic, who said he had a high fever and swollen ankles before the match began, admitted he was "outplayed".

"It wasn't fun," he said.

"I think even the birds in the sky saw I'm unfit due to the illness I had. I was on antibiotics for a long time and I had very few hours of tennis before this match.

"It wasn't an option for me not to play. Our team is kind of torn apart."

Ward, 29, was scheduled to play straight after the opening match, but rain delays meant his contest against world number 81 Lajovic was delayed until Saturday.

Smith, 40, said that he was hoping that Edmund's win would help to take the pressure off the world number 240.

"It changes the nature of Wardy's match, he can free himself up a little bit," said Smith. "He still has a lot of pressure on him but there's added pressure on Lajovic now."

The doubles rubber - scheduled to be between Britons Dominic Inglot and Jamie Murray, and Tipsarevic and Nenad Zimonjic - will not start before 15:00 BST.

Tipsarevic said: "I am ready to play."

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