US Open runner-up Djokovic withdrew from the opening rubber of the semifinal against Radek Stepanek in Belgrade complaining of gastro-enteritis with teammate Victor Troicki, the world No.  47, stepping into the breach.

Stepanek, who helped take the Czechs to the final last year, overcame Troicki 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 to leave the stage clear for teammate Tomas Berdych, the Wimbledon runnerup, to try and make it 2-0 later when he tackles Janko Tipsarevic.

The winner of the semifinal will face either France or Argentina in December's final.

France, the nine-time winners, were 2-0 ahead in their semifinal in Lyon after Michael Llodra served and volleyed his way to a 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 win over Juan Monaco.

World No.  15 Gael Monfils then saw off David Nalbandian 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3 to give France a 2-0 lead.

Troicki looked untroubled by his late call-up and broke Stepanek in the opening game of the first set.

But the experienced Czech player, who has recently returned to action after suffering glandular fever and a knee injury, levelled courtesy of two breaks in the second set.

Troicki was unable to take advantage of three break points in the third set as Stepanek went into a 2-1 lead.   The Czech needed treatment for a foot injury in the fourth set, but he still had enough in the tank to take victory.

Djokovic, who had lost to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final on Monday, is understood to have made himself available to play doubles on Saturday in order to keep the tie alive.

"I heard that Djokovic wasn't going to play about three hours before the start," said Stepanek.

"But it's not our problem, you have to be ready whoever is on the other side of the net."   Stepanek said it was his best performance since his return to action.

"When you play for your country, you have a lion in your heart," he said.

In Lyon, Llodra, the world No. 30, showed no signs off the dizziness which forced him to retire in the US Open third round to give France an opening win.    Service proved the key difference for Llodra as he sent down 22 aces compared to the Argentine's five.

"I was very nervous at the start," said Llodra. "But it's great to put France ahead. I had to focus and play my game because anything can happen in the Davis Cup."   

In the playoffs to clinch a World Group place in 2011, Kazakhstan made the most of Roger Federer's decision not to play by opening a 2-0 lead over Switzerland in Astana.

Andrey Golubev saw off Marco Chiudinelli 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 before Mikhail Kukushkin defeated Stanislas Wawrinka, a player he had lost to in the first round of the US Open just two weeks ago, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3.

In Cairns, 28-time champions Australia were locked at 1-1 with Belgium.

Former world No. 1 Lleyotn Hewitt put Australia ahead, overcoming 22-year-old Ruben Bemelmans in scorching conditions in just over three hours 7-6 (7/4), 7-5, 2-6, 6-4.

Rochus then beat Carsten Ball 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).

In other playoffs, Brazil were 2-0 ahead over India, Germany were 2-0 up on South Africa while Israel were 2-1 in front against Austria.

Italy and Sweden were 1-1 while Romania looked set for the World Group after opening a 2-0 lead against Ecuador.
 
Groth advances to Guangzhou semifinals

In Guangzhou, China, top-seeded Jarmila Groth of Australia advanced to the semifinals of the Guangzhou International on Friday with a 6-0, 6-2 victory over Maria Elena Camerin of Italy.

Groth next plays unseeded Edina Gallovits of Romania, who beat Han Xinyun of China 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Earlier, Alla Kudryavtseva of Russia beat countrywoman Ksenia Pervak, 6-3, 6-1.

Kudryavtseva will play China’s Zhang Shuai in the other semifinal. Zhang beat Sania Mirza of India 6-4, 1-6, 6-4.