Former world number three Nalbandian, now ranked 74th on the men’s ATP tour, revived memories of the player he once was against world no. 16 Troicki with an effervescent performance in the Belgrade Arena.

Troicki, who stood in for Novak Djokovic after the world number one pulled out with lower back and rib pain, was the first to break serve in the third game of the opening set.

But Nalbandian then moved up a gear and broke back in the sixth game and again in the ninth before he held serve to take the opening set.

Games went with serve in the second set until Troicki — roared on by a partisan 15,000 home crowd — capitalized on an unforced error by Nalbandian and then held serve to draw level.

Any hopes Troicki might have had of swinging the tie his way were dashed however by a barrage of winners by Nalbandian in the third set, including a delightful lob which sent a small but vociferous band of Argentine supporters into raptures.

The fourth set followed the same pattern as Nalbandian sealed the match in two hours 51 minutes with a backhand winner down the line.

Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic plays Juan Martin Del Potro in the second singles rubber later on Friday.