Lajovic, 33rd in the world at 31, was clearly superior on paper to his opponent Gerald Melzer, 287 at 31.
But the Austrian has shown that he is better than his current ranking, he who reached the 68th in the world at the end of 2016 but who has since gone through almost two clean seasons (2019 and 2020) due to injury.
So that the Serbian could be relieved to win 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5 in 2h42.
On the other hand, the second single between the best players of each team was dominated by the head and shoulders by the world No.1 who inflicted a 6-3, 6-2 in 58 minutes on Dennis Novak (118th).
Austrian Dennis Novak, beaten (6-3, 6-2) by Serbian Novak Djokovic, during their first Davis Cup meeting, November 26, 2021 in Innsbruck JOE KLAMAR AFP
Djokovic dreams of completing a record-breaking 2021 season by securing a second Silver Bowl with Serbia.
Serbs Filip Krajinovic and Nikola Cacic have yet to face Austrians Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald in doubles.
Germany, deprived of Alexander Zverev, completes this group F.
The final phase of the new look Davis Cup, of which the second edition is starting (after 2019, it was canceled in 2020 due to Covid-19), consists of a group stage with six groups of three teams, spread this year in three different cities, Madrid, Innsbruck (Austria) and Turin (Italy), followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.
In Innsbruck
Group F
Serbia beats Austria 2-0
Dusan Lajovic (SRB) beats Gerald Melzer (AUT) 7-6 (7/5), 3-6, 7-5
Novak Djokovic (SRB) beats Dennis Novak (AUT) 6-3, 6-2
Still to play:
Nikola Cacic / Filip Krajinovic (SRB) - Oliver Marach / Philipp Oswald (AUT)
© 2021 AFP