Czechs Return to Davis Cup Finals; Canada Wins Doubles Battle

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Czechs Return to Davis Cup Finals; Canada Wins Doubles Battle

By Erik Gudris/September 14, 2013

Defending champions Czech Republic swept into the finals after winning their doubles rubber. Canada won a marathon doubles match versus Serbia to take a 2-1 lead.
Photo Credit: AP

Led by Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek, defending champions Czech Republic booked their spot in the Davis Cup with a clean sweep of Argentina.

Berdych and Stepanek won their individual singles yesterday to give the Czechs a 2-0 lead against Argentina in the semis. They then teamed up on Saturday in the doubles to face Carlos Berlocq and Horacio Zeballos.

The Czechs were too tough for the Argentines as they easily won 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 to clinch the win and thus sweep the semis 3-0.

“It’s definitely very exciting; Davis Cup means a lot, it’s special for us, for the whole country,” Stepanek said to Davis Cup.com. “We loved so much delivering the trophy last year -- it never gets old and we’d like to keep that trophy because it’s beautiful.”

Canada Wins Marathon Doubles Battle; Takes Lead Over Serbia

In the semifinals between Canada and Serbia taking place in Belgrade, once again a duo of a veteran and youngster proved the right combination in doubles.

Veteran Daniel Nestor and young Vasek Pospisil outlasted Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac in an over four hour doubles battle to secure a 2-1 lead for Canada heading into tomorrow's reverse singles.

Level at two sets all, the final set went into advantage games where Canada took the lead thanks to Zimonijic netting a backhand to give Nestor and Pospisil the break lead. Pospisil then served out the 6-7(6), 6-4, 3-6, 7-6(5), 10-8 win.

Novak Djokovic will now face Milos Raonic in the first singles rubber. If needed, Pospisil will then have to come out on Sunday and face Janko Tipsarevic in the second singles to decide the tie.

In World Group Playoff action, Spain, Switzerland and the Netherlands all clinched their ties 3-0.

Follow Erik Gudris on Twitter @ATNTennis

(Photo Credit: AP)