By Erik Gudris/Sunday, November 17, 2013

 

Despite Novak Djokovic leveling the tie with his 24th straight win, Radek Stepanek once again clinched the Davis Cup title for the Czech Republic.

Photo Credit: AP

Though Novak Djokovic ended his 2013 season in Belgrade by winning his 24th straight match, it wasn't enough to stop the Czech Republic from defending their Davis Cup title.

That was largely in part to the heroics of Radek Stepanek who now joins some very elite company in Davis Cup history.

Sunday's reverse singles rubbers commenced with Tomas Berdych trying to figure out a way to beat Djokovic on a hard court. Something Berdych had never done in his entire career. In the opening set, Berdych looked ready to challenge Djokovic early.

Despite falling behind 0-40 on his serve, Berdych fought back to eventually hold serve for 4-all. Berdych's next service game at 4-5 proved even trickier. In an over 14 minute game, Berdych found himself staring down three set points as the rowdy Belgrade crowd urged Djokovic onwards. But Djokovic finally got the break, and the set, when he sent a short backhand up the line that forced a Berdych error.

Djokovic celebrated the 6-4 first set by exhorting the crowd to make as much noise as they could.

Not wavering in his own performance, Berdych held a break point on Djokovic in the second set at 4-all. But an overcooked forehand from Berdych on the next point allowed Djokovic to escape. It was those kinds of errors that would eventually cost Berdych in the ensuing tiebreak.

Though Berdych would hold an early 4-2 lead, Djokovic would soon level the breaker. From there, Berdych would send what looked like a winning backhand volley just wide and then commit another backhand error to give Djokovic set point. Berdych then sent a slice backhand just long to allow Djokovic to claim a two sets to love lead. With the match now feeling inevitable, Berdych allowed himself to be broken in the opening game of the third set.

Djokovic held on to his advantage and got a step closer to victory when Berdych committed a forehand error down another break point. That gave Djokovic an insurmountable 5-2 lead.

Djokovic soon went on to serve out the 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2 win to level the tie at 2-all. The victory ended Djokovic's 2013 season that saw him finish with 24 wins in a row, 13 of those against top 10 opponents.

But despite his achievement, Djokovic remained focused on the prize.

“I played great tennis but look, this win and the win two days ago will not make me happy if we don’t win the trophy,” Djokovic said. “The last match is the most important one.”

With Djokovic's win, that left the fifth singles rubber to decide it all in an intriguing matchup of youth versus experience. Radek Stepanek, who along with Berdych won Saturday's doubles, found himself facing young Dusan Lajovic. Nerves from both men were understandable and it was Stepanek who showed them first.

In the opening game of the match, Stepanek found himself broken to the delight of the vocal Belgrade crowd. But that would be the only wobble for Stepanek as the veteran soon broke Lajovic for 1-all. Stepanek held off a threat from Lajovic to break him at 4-3 and went on to take the first set 6-3.

From there, Stepanek used his experience to roll through both the second and third sets without facing a break point against him.

At match point, Stepanek struck a forehand winner, his 31st of the afternoon, to seal the 6-3, 6-1, 6-1, win and with it the Davis Cup title.

By winning the fifth singles rubber in the Davis Cup finals for a second year in a row, Stepanek now joins elite company in the event's history. Only the greats Fred Perry and Henri Cochet before have won two live Davis Cup final singles rubbers.

“That’s a beautiful stat, what can I say,” Stepanek said to DavisCup.com “I’m indescribably happy. This is the highest (moment of my career). To win Davis Cup is so far my biggest achievement.