Tomas Berdych outclasses Mikhail Kukushkin to level Czech Republic with Kazakhstan – Davis Cup 2011
Tomas Berdych beat Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin in straight sets 7-6, 6-2, 6-3 to level the Davis Cup 2011 first round tie between Czech Republic and Kazakhstan at 1-1 on Friday.
The 25-year-old faced tough competition from his opponent in the opening set. He was a break down in the opening set, before he broke back and served for the set at 6-5. The Czech had a set point at 6-5, which he failed to convert. The world number 7 then
came back from a 2-5 deficit in the tiebreaker to clinch the opening set 7-6.
After winning the opening set, Berdych never looked back and raced to a 4-0 lead in the second set. The Czech broke his opponent twice to win the second set 6-2.
Kukushkin tried his best to come back in the match after losing the first two sets but Berdych did not allow him to do so. The Czech needed a single break to claim the third set 6-3.
Berdych’s powerful serve was the main difference between the two as he hit 13 aces and won 86 per cent of the points on his first serve. In comparison, his opponent hit just 5 aces and won 66 per cent of the points on his first serve in the match. The Czech
hit 46 winners and made 29 unforced errors. The match lasted for 2 hours and 39 minutes.
Talking to media, Berdych said, “I’m so happy to be back again and enjoying this Davis Cup atmosphere, you cannot get it anywhere on the tour, it is very special, unique. I love to be at home, I think the crowd are great, they are fair as well, so I think
the atmosphere was nice, that’s part of the Davis Cup.”
The Czech, who made his Davis Cup debut in 2003, improved his singles win/loss record to 15-10 at the Davis Cup.
Earlier, Kazakhstan got a 1-0 lead, when its top player Andrey Golubev defeated Czech Jan Hajek 7-6, 6-7, 1-6, 7-6, 6-3 in the opening match of the day.
The world number 43 was the clear favourite going into the match and was expected to win easily. However, world number 101 Hajek stretched the match to five sets.
The Kazakh said after the match, “I think it was a really tough match, it was first time I play five sets so I’m happy to win,” said Golubev. “It was not easy because I play so bad, I can play much, much better, I know that. It’s important that I win, I
served well, the serve saved me today.”
Lukas Dlouhy and Jiri Vesely of Czech Republic will take on the Kazakh pair of Evgeny Korolov and Yuriy Schukin in the doubles match on Saturday.
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