Radek Stepanek edges past Andreas Seppi in the opening rubber – Davis Cup WG 2012: Czech vs. Italy
Radek Stepanek of Czech Republic overcame the Italian, Andreas Seppi, in a five set thriller 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 in the opening match at the Davis Cup 2012 on Friday. Stepanek gave his country a 1-0 lead over Italy in the first round of the World Group.
In the first set, Seppi and Stepanek held their serve in the first five games to take the score to 3-2 in the Italian’s favour. Seppi broke Stepanek in the sixth game to capture a 4-2 lead. The Czech broke back in the seventh game to reduce the trail to 3-4 and held his serve in the next game, levelling the score at 4-4. Serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Stepanek failed to hold his serve and lost the set 4-6.
Stepanek did not take too long to break his opponent in the second set. The Czech broke Seppi in the opening game and won his next serve to grab a 2-0 lead. Stepanek did not allow Seppi to break back throughout the set, winning it 6-4.
Seppi and Stepanek held their respective serves without registering a break point in the first six games of the third set and equalised the score at 3-3. It was an all-Stepanek show after that; the Czech broke the Italian in the seventh and ninth game, clinching the set 6-3.
After getting two sets to one down, Seppi was in more trouble as he was facing difficulties in holding his serve in the fourth set. At 0-1, Seppi saved a break point and managed to hold his serve. The Italian had to wait for fourth game point to hold his serve in the fourth game, levelling the score at 2-2. However, after winning these two close games, Seppi gained the momentum as he broke Stepanek in the fifth game to go up 3-2. The 6ft 3in tall broke Stepanek again in the ninth game, winning the set 6-3.
Stepanek drew the first blood in the decisive set by breaking Seppi in the third game and consolidated on it to take a 3-1 lead. The right-hander, Stepanek, and Seppi held their serve in the next four games to take the score to 5-3 in the former’s favour. Serving to stay in the match at 3-5, Seppi failed to hold his serve and lost the set 3-6.
Czech Republic leads 7-3 against Italy in all-time head-to-head record at the Davis Cup. The winner of this tie will face either Serbia or Sweden in the second round.
Tags: