France and Serbia to meet in Davis Cup Final
Serbia will play in their first-ever Davis Cup final after they beat the Czech Republic 3-2 in a thrilling contest that went down to the last rubber.
Janko Tipsarevic beat Radek Stepanek 6-0 7-6 6-4 in Sunday's decisive final rubber at the Belgrade Arena securing Serbia’s passage into the final.
After easily winning the first set, Tipsarevic came from 3-1 down in the second set tiebreak, saving a set point, and then winning the match in two hours and 30 minutes.
Earlier in the day US Open runner-up Novak Djokovic defeated Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych in four sets 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-2, squaring things up in the tie at 2-2. Djokovic dropped serve in game seventh game to lose the first set 6-4 but bounced back dropping just seven games in the next three sets.
He was under pressure at 15-30 in the fifth game of the second set but managed to come out of that hole and never looked back, winning in three hours and 14 minutes. Djokovic injured his knee during the match but he said the injury helped him win the match.
"It woke me up. I didn't feel great at the start of the match, Tomas was playing much better, and I needed something to happen, so maybe it was a sign,” said Djokovic
Serbia will face France in the final after they whitewashed Argentina 3-0 in the other semi-final.
Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement won Saturday's doubles 6-4 7-5 6-3 against Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballoa to claim the winning rubber. The two were paired up for the first time in two years, but there were no signs of rust as they took the match in straight sets.
“I am very proud, they're all here together, the seven of them, those who played and those who also contributed to this victory," captain Guy Forget said in a courtside interview.
Llodra added: "This is fabulous. I am, with my mates, in the Davis Cup final, now with my mate Arnaud, I'm so happy.
"We're like good wine, we get better with age."
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