Serbia & Czech Republic Advance to Final in Dusseldorf

By Chris Oddo Photo Credit: AP Photo

(May 25, 2012)--Janko Tipsarevic survived a hard-fought three-setter to move the Serbians one stop closer to their second Power Horse World Team Cup title since 2009 today in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Tipsarevic's 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber went down to the wire, as the German saved five match points in the third set before Tipsarevic eventually prevailed.

"I felt maybe I could have won easier today," said the world No. 8. "I certainly had opportunities. But in the end it doesn't matter. What matters is that Serbia is in the final."

Tipsarevic is now 25-11 on the season, while Kohlschreiber drops to 1-6 against top ten opponents for 2012.

Germany, who leads all nations with five Power Team World Team Cup titles, also lost to Serbia in the final in 2009. In that tie, Tipsarevic was victorious over Kohlshcreiber as well.

In the red group, the Czech Republic and Argentina went down to the wire after Leonardo Mayer defeated Radek Stepanek in a marathon match that lasted just over three hours. The 6-7(4), 7-5, 6-4 victory gave the Argentines a chance to represent the red group in the final, but they couldn't get it done in the deciding doubles tie.

Stepanek regrouped, joined forces with Frantisek Cermak, and squeaked past the Argentine pairing of Mayer and Carlos Berlocq, 6-4, 4-6, 10-3.

Stepanek and Cermak did not drop a single point on serve in the one-sided match tiebreak.

Tomas Berdych had given the Czechs a 1-0 lead when he defeated Carlos Berlocq in three sets on Thursday.

The Czech Republic is aiming to win this event for the first time since 1981.