Raonic Roars as Djokovic, Nadal Post Wins in Davis Cup

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Raonic Roars as Djokovic, Nadal Post Wins in Davis Cup

By Erik Gudris/September 13, 2013

Milos Raonic came back from match point down to secure an all-important point for Canada in their Davis Cup semi versus Serbia.
Photo Credit: AP

Not even an week after their scintillating US Open final against each other, both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal answered their country's call by competing in respective Davis Cup rubbers on Friday.

Canada and Serbia Tied at 1-all

Despite looking weary early on in the opening rubber, Djokovic easily dispatched Vasek Pospisil 6-2, 6-0, 6-4 to give his Serbian team a 1-0 lead over Canada. But it was the heroics of Milos Raonic that made the real news in the semifinal tie held in Belgrade.

Facing Janko Tipsarevic in the second rubber, Raonic found himself extended into five sets despite having never lost to the Serbian before. Raonic fought off a match point against him late in the fifth set before securing a late break of serve after the set went into advantage games.

With an ace, Raonic closed out the dramatic 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 10-8 win that leveled the tie at 1-all heading into Saturday's doubles.

Czech Republic Jumps Out to Early Lead over Argentina

The go-to duo of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek for defending champions Czech Republic once again came up with the goods as each won their opening singles rubbers.

Facing Argentina in the semis at home in Prague, both Berdych and Stepanek delighted the local fans by winning their singles to open up a 2-0 lead for their team. Stepanek defeated Juan Monaco 7-6(3), 6-3, 6-2 followed by Berdych winning over Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Berdych and Stepanek are expected to play doubles tomorrow in hopes of closing out the tie 3-0.

Nadal Celebrates Davis Cup Win in Madrid

Fresh off of his triumph in New York after winning his second US Open title, Rafael Nadal was able to celebrate a win in Davis Cup at home in Madrid.

In World Group Playoff action, Spain took on Ukraine with the winner earning a spot back into the main group next year. Nadal faced Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second singles rubber inside Caja Magica that is in the annual site of the Madrid Open. The current World No. 2 had little problems with Stakhovsky's trademark serve and volley game as Nadal took the opening sets without dropping a game.

Stakhovsky managed to make the final set more interesting, but did not dent Nadal enough as the Spaniard went on to win 6-0, 6-0, 6-4.

With Fernando Verdasco beating Alexandr Dolgopolov earlier, Nadal's win secured a 2-0 lead for Spain heading into Saturday.

Murray's 57-shot Rally With Coric

In Umag, Great Britain and Crotia find themselves tied at 1-1 in their World Group Playoff tie. The most exciting part of tie so far was this 57-shot rally between Andy Murray and young Croatian star Borna Coric. Coric recently won the US Open Boys title in Flushing Meadows.