Berdych/Stepanek oust Granollers/Lopez to take lead for Czechs – Davis Cup WG Final 2012
Czech duo, Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, made an epic comeback from a set down to overpower the Spanish junction, Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, in a four-set thriller at the Davis Cup World Group 2012 on Saturday. They nudged up a 3-6, 7-5, 7-5,
6-3 victory against the Spaniards to leach Czech Republic 2-1 in the final showdown at this prestigious event.
The Czech collaboration of Berdych and Stepanek showed brilliant co-ordination to outclass the doubles specialists, Granollers and Lopez, in four sets. As a result, they lead their nation to go 2-1 up against the defending champions.
Berdych was quoted in a courtside interview after pulling out the victory:
“It's incredible. It's just one point. We'll do everything for that. I'm ready to do it tomorrow. I'll try to come with my strong game, and with the crowd on my back, it would be a good combination to make it.”
Stepanek commented further, “We know what we are capable to do in Davis Cup. And we also know that the doubles points matter and we played together so many times, so we have all the experience we can have.”
The in-form Spanish tandem made quick in-roads at the O2 Arena in Prague. They drew the first blood in the second game and cruised to a 3-0 lead. Granollers and Lopez held their composure and bagged their remaining serves, eventually sealing the opener by
winning six games to three.
With support from the home crowd, Berdych and Stepanek got back in action in the following set. They got the crucial break in the fourth game and took a 3-1 lead. Despite squandering their edge in the very next game, the Czechs marked another break chance
in the last game and clinched the set with a 7-5 score line.
The Czech pair maintained consistency in their game in the third set. They swiftly bagged their entire serves and got the breakthrough in the last game, eventually carving out the set with a 7-5 success.
In the fourth round, Berdych and Stepanek carried their rhythm. They got the desiderated break in the sixth game and leaped to a 5-2 lead. The Czech held their serve once again and clinched the set with a 6-3 score line.
The Czech team is eyeing to avenge their 0-5 rout by the Spaniards in the title-round of this tournament three years ago. They require only a single point in the reverse rubbers to steal the show.
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