Tomas Berdych beats Janko Tipsarevic to steer Czech Republic into the semi-final – Davis Cup WG 2012
Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych took his country to the last four, dumping Janko Tipsarevic in the first reverse singles to give his country an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup, World Group on Sunday.
Ranked seventh in the South African Airways ATP Rankings, Berdych needed three tie-breakers to topple world number eight, Tipsarevic, in straight sets 7-6(6), 7-6(6), 7-6(7) in the fourth rubber of the tie.
Tipsarevic was first to take lead, as he broke Berdych in the in the eight game of the first set to move ahead 5-3. However, the Serbian was unable to close it out, losing the next two and levelling the score at 5-5. Both players
held their following serves to take it to a tie-breaker. Berdych drew the decisive blood, as he claimed two consecutive points to seal it 7-6(6).
The Czech capitalised on the winning momentum and struck early in the second set, grabbing a 2-0 lead. However, Tipsarevic broke back immediately and held his next serve to even out the score at 2-2. The Serbian hit a blow in the
ninth game but just like the previous set, he could not serve it out and squared off the proceedings at 5-5. A tie-breaker was forced and once again Berdych got through, winning it 7-6(6).
Berdych and Tipsarevic exchanged a break in the first 12 games of the third set and equalised the score at 6-6, taking it to another tie-breaker. The Serbian raced to a 5-1 lead but Berdych powered his way back and hit the final
blow, capturing it 7-6(7).
Giving an interview to the Czech TV, Berdych said, "It was a narrow escape in all three sets but that's tennis today. You can't expect to win three easy sets against the eighth player of the world. I would definitely find a few
things I could have done better but that doesn't matter now. What matters is the third point I've won.”
Czech Republic’s non playing captain, Jaroslav Navratil, praised his top player. A jubilant Navratil said, "In the end, the decisive factor was Tomas's courage. It's a great success, hats off to the whole team.”
In the second reverse singles, which was a dead rubber, Lukas Rosol of Czech Republic downed his higher ranked opponent, Viktor Troicki, in straight sets 7-6(5), 7-5 to end the tie at 4-1 in his country’s favour.
The Czechs will take on the Argentineans in September for a place in the Davis Cup finals.
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