Janko Tipsarevic defeats Radek Stepanek: Czech Republic vs. Serbia – Davis Cup WG Quarter-final 2012
Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic won a five set thriller 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 9-7 against Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic in the second rubber to level the score at 1-1 at the quarter-final tie of Davis Cup, World Group on Friday.
Tipsarevic drew the first blood, as he struck in the third game of the first set and consolidated on it to move ahead 3-1. However, Stepanek broke back in the eighth game to equalise the score at 4-4. Tipsarevic failed to hold
his serve again in the twelfth, losing it 5-7.
The Serbian hit a blow in the very first game of the second set but failed to capitalise on it, levelling the score at 1-1. Tipsarevic snatched a break again in the fifth game and this time he held his next serve to go up 4-2,
sealing it 6-4 in the end.
In the third set, Tipsarevic claimed a breakthrough in the opening game and did not lose his own serve even once, capturing it 6-4.
The Serbian was looking to wrap up the match quickly, as he built a 4-2 lead in the fourth set. However, Stepanek claimed four straight games after that and won it 6-4.
In the decider, Tipsarevic and Stepanek exchanged a break of serve in the first twelve games to square off the score at 6-6. According to the Davis Cup rules, tie-breaker was not forced in the final set. However, Tipsarevic made
the decisive strike in the 15th game and made the most of it to win 9-7.
There was a controversy at the end of the match, as Tipsarevic was pulled back by his team captain to avoid any confrontation.
Talking about the incident, Tipsarevic said, "After five hours and 10 minutes, instead of shaking my hand, he gave me a middle finger, and told me that I'm a stinking, something bad. Unbelievable, I never ever thought that I would
experience this. It's pathetic, nothing else."
On the other hand, Stepanek denied all claims of any problem. The Czech said, "We normally shook hands. He was likely happy that he won."
When asked about the incident, Czech captain, Jaroslav Navratil said, "Radek may have told him something, but I was too far from them (to hear)."
Earlier, Tomas Berdych crushed Viktor Troicki in straight sets 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in the first singles to give Czech Republic a 1-0 advantage.
Frantisek Cermak and Lukas Rosol of Czech Republic are named to take on Serbia’s Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles match on Saturday.
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