Berdych Seals Czech Victory Over Argentina in Davis Cup

Tomas Berdych punched the ticket for his Czech team's trip to the Davis Cup finals with a straight sets victory.

By Erik Gudris

(September 16, 2012) -- Despite a valiant effort from Carlos Berlocq who was substituted in for an ailing Juan Martin Del Potro, it wasn't enough to stop Tomas Berdych from moving his Czech team into the Davis Cup finals.

In the reverse singles rubbers today. Berlocq was scheduled in lieu of Del Potro who continues to deal with pain in his left wrist and was advised not to play today. Despite the obvious mismatch between the world No. 6 and Berlocq, who is ranked No. 45th, Berlocq didn't back down from the challenge even after he lost the first set 6-3.

The match was more or less in Berdych's hands as he went up an early break in the second set thanks to a clever slice backhand passing shot. Berlocq managed to earn a break point chance off a volley winner but he couldn't convert on the next point and it was a scenario that would replay itself throughout the afternoon.

Despite the boisterous crowd urging Berlocq on so loudly at times that the chair umpire had to call for silence, it didn't rattle Berdych who broke Berlocq again to take the second set 6-3.

In the third set, Berdych showed off his speed chasing down a Berlocq drop shot and then a Berlocq lob to hit a final shot Berlocq couldn't handle while up at net. Though Berdych broke to take a 3-1 lead, it didn't stop Berlocq from feeding off of the crowd's energy and while down 2-4, Berlocq constructed a serious of points capped off with a charge to the net that forced Berdych to send a passing shot wide.

Berlocq broke and then held for 4-all and seemed to have changed the match's momentum, but that would be his last hurrah. Forcing Berdych to 15-40 on the Czech's serve, Berlocq couldn't convert on either break point opportunity. Berlocq was only 1 of 13 on break point chances in the match and that would prove to be his undoing.

Berdych held for 5-4 and sensing that it was time to end the match before it go any more complicated jumped out to a 0-40 lead on Berlocq's serve. Berlocq saved the first match point but a backhand return winner from Berdych sealed the 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 victory and with it booked the Czechs into the Davis Cup final.

"We made it…that was the goal," said Berdych afterwards on reaching the finals. "To win in a such a crazy crowd it gives us so much for the future."

Belocq, though not the winner on the day, received a warm ovation from the crowd and he acknowledged their support. In the final "dead" rubber of the day Juan Monaco defeated Ivo Minar 6-3, 7-6(2) making the tie's final score 3-2 in favor of the Czechs who will play at home against Spain in the finals.

(File Photo: Tomas Berdych at the 2012 U.S. Open; Credit: Andy Kentla)