US, Serbia tied 1-1 at Hopman Cup after Djokovic downs Fish

Novak Djokovic beat American Mardy Fish 6-2, 6-7 (4), 7-6 (4) Friday to keep Serbia in contention for the Hopman Cup mixed team tennis championship.

The United States led 1-0 four hours before Djokovic took to the Burswood Dome courts when Jelena Jankovic, hobbled by strained upper leg muscles for three days, was not able to play her singles match against Serena Williams.

That gave the United States a walkover win and a 1-0 lead.

But Djokovic, despite needing treatment for a shoulder ailment, evened the match at 1-1 with his win over Fish.

Serbian team officials were hoping that by resting Jankovic from women's singles, she would be able to partner Djokovic in the decisive mixed doubles.

With Djokovic's win, that strategy seemed to be working. All four players were expected to take to the court later Friday for the mixed doubles that would determine the champion in the eight-nation tournament.

Jankovic pulled out of both her singles matches on the previous two days at the tournament, and in both cases, she came back to win the clinching mixed doubles with Djokovic _ against France on Wednesday and Argentina on Thursday.

The United States is appearing in its ninth final in the tournament's 20-year history and is after its fifth title. Williams won the trophy in 2003 with James Blake.

Tournament doctor Hamish Osborne said Jankovic would not be capable of playing two matches because she would need extended medical treatment after her singles match.

"The treatment she has been receiving is painful and she will be far better off preparing for the doubles, which is much less strenuous," Osborne said.