‘Nothing compares to celebrating with team’

Djokovic elated as Serbia set up Davis Cup final clash with Czech.

PARIS: Novak Djokovic and Janko Tipsarevic were overjoyed as they led Serbia into a Davis Cup final clash with defending champions the Czech Republic on Sunday after over-turning a 2-1 deficit to beat Canada 3-2 in the semi-finals.

Serbia, the 2010 champions, will host the November 15-17 final against the Czechs who had already made sure of victory in their semi-final on Saturday when they opened up an unassailable 3-0 lead against Argentina in Prague.

World number one Djokovic kept Serbia alive in Belgrade by seeing off world number 11 Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2.

Tipsarevic, the world number 24, then assured Serbia of a second final in four years by defeating Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 7-6 (8/6).

But Pospisil went down fighting, coming back from 5-2 down in the third set and saving four match points in the ensuing tiebreaker.

“I’ve won a number of Grand Slams,” said Djokovic, who arrived in Belgrade having been defeated by Rafael Nadal in the US Open final in New York. “But nothing compares to sharing the joy of victory with your teammates, who are there for you and cheer on every shot you take on the court in the Davis Cup.”

Tipsarevic added, “This is one of the sweetest wins of my career and I wish to thank my teammates for their support.

“See you right here in the final against the Czechs.”

November’s final will be the third meeting between Serbia and the Czech Republic in the last four seasons.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2013.

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