Serbia trail despite Djokovic return
Czech pair Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych beat Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1.
BELGRADE:
World number two Novak Djokovic returned to Davis Cup action for Serbia but was unable to prevent his country from trailing 2-1 in their semi-final against the Czech Republic.
Czech pair Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych beat Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in a two and a half-hour match before more than 10,000 fans in Belgrade Sports Arena.
The winners of the tie will tackle France, who booked their place in the Davis Cup final when they took an unassailable 3-0 lead over Argentina in the other semi-final.
Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement beat Horacio Zeballos and Eduardo Schwank 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the doubles to secure the winning point. In December’s final they will face either Serbia or the Czech Republic.
One more point today will put the Czechs through while Serbia, who have never reached the Davis Cup final, need to win both reverse singles. Djokovic is due to face Berdych while the decisive singles could be between Janko Tipsarevic and Stepanek.
Instead of using Viktor Troicki, Serbia coach Bogdan Obradovic paired Djokovic, who withdrew from Friday’s match due to stomach problems, with Zimonjic in the doubles.
Serbia took the first set 6-3 after 40 minutes. But the Czechs dominated the second set, winning 6-1 after only 32 minutes, and then capitalised on some poor serving from Zimonjic to take the third 6-4.
Stepanek and Berdych then cruised through the fourth for a decisive win.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2010.
World number two Novak Djokovic returned to Davis Cup action for Serbia but was unable to prevent his country from trailing 2-1 in their semi-final against the Czech Republic.
Czech pair Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych beat Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1 in a two and a half-hour match before more than 10,000 fans in Belgrade Sports Arena.
The winners of the tie will tackle France, who booked their place in the Davis Cup final when they took an unassailable 3-0 lead over Argentina in the other semi-final.
Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement beat Horacio Zeballos and Eduardo Schwank 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 in the doubles to secure the winning point. In December’s final they will face either Serbia or the Czech Republic.
One more point today will put the Czechs through while Serbia, who have never reached the Davis Cup final, need to win both reverse singles. Djokovic is due to face Berdych while the decisive singles could be between Janko Tipsarevic and Stepanek.
Instead of using Viktor Troicki, Serbia coach Bogdan Obradovic paired Djokovic, who withdrew from Friday’s match due to stomach problems, with Zimonjic in the doubles.
Serbia took the first set 6-3 after 40 minutes. But the Czechs dominated the second set, winning 6-1 after only 32 minutes, and then capitalised on some poor serving from Zimonjic to take the third 6-4.
Stepanek and Berdych then cruised through the fourth for a decisive win.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 19th, 2010.