Lleyton Hewitt has scored a typically fighting five-set victory over Janko Tipsarevic to leave Australia and Serbia locked at one rubber apiece after the opening day of the Davis Cup World Group playoff in Belgrade.

Hewitt rallied from two-sets-to-one down to over-run Tipsarevic 6-2 3-6 4-6 6-1 6-1 in three hours and 28 minutes

US Open runner-up Novak Djokovic had drawn first blood for Serbia with a 6-1 6-4 6-2 victory over Australian number two Peter Luczak.

Hewitt and Paul Hanley now have the opportunity to put Australia 2-1 up in the best-of-five-match claycourt tie with success over Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic in Saturday's doubles (starting at 2300 AEST).

Regardless of the doubles result, though, shared honours now guarantees a marquee match between Hewitt and Djokovic in Sunday's potentially decisive first reverse singles.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP