France will travel to Serbia to play in what is likely to be a noisy and intimidating atmosphere for this year’s Davis Cup final.
US Open finalist Novak Djokovic and his countryman Janko Tipsarevic were the heroes for Serbia, despite the fact that Djokovic sat out day one of their tie against Czech Republic in Belgrade with an upset stomach. The Serbians went into the final day trailing 1-2 before Djokovic beat Thomas Berdych 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 and Tipsarevic wrapped up victory for the home team against France with a 6-0, 7-6(6), 6-4 win over Radek Stepanek.
15,000 fans in the Belgrade Arena went into near-hysteria when Tipsarevic sealed the win, which took Serbia into its first ever final, and was then hoisted on the shoulders of his team-mates. The final will be played on 3- 5 December at a Serbian venue to be announced.
Earlier in the weekend, France wrapped up a far more comfortable victory to earn their final place when Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra gave the home side an unassailable 3-0 lead with a 6-4, 7-5, 6-3 doubles victory over Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos after Llodra had beaten Juan Monaco and Gael Monfils took care of David Nalbandian in four sets in Friday’s rubbers.
In other results on what was an eventful weekend in the worldwide national team competition, Austria, USA, Germany, Sweden, India, Kazakhstan and Romania all secured places in the 2011 World Group. A highly competitive tie between Australia and Belgium was postponed due to rain and will restart on Monday.
The USA had to dig deep in Bogota to secure World Group status against Columbia in what was the outgoing USA captain Patrick McEnroe’s last tie. Mardy Fish was the man of the weekend and gave his team an unbeatable 3-1 scoreline when he outlasted Santiago Giraldo 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 8-6 on clay, his least favourite surface, in the fourth rubber. Fish’s win spared a few blushes for McEnroe, after he opted to rest John Isner on day one in favour of Sam Querrey only to see Querrey lose tamely to Giraldo. Fortunately, Fish had already got the USA off to a flying start by beating Alejandro Falla and then joined forces with Isner in Saturday’s doubles to beat Robert Farah and Carlos Salamanca 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 63.
Davis Cup by BNP Paribas is the largest annual international team competition in sport with 125 nations taking part in 2010. For more information on the competition, the teams and the players involved go to www.daviscup.org or here for the Spanish language website www.daviscup.com/es.
Here’s the full list of results:
WORLD GROUP SEMIFINALS
FRANCE defeated ARGENTINA 5-0
Venue: Palais des Sports de Gerland, Lyon, France (hard – indoors)
Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Juan Monaco (ARG) 7-5, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3
Gael Monfils (FRA) d. David Nalbandian (ARG) 6-4, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3
Arnaud Clement/Michael Llodra (FRA) d. Eduardo Schwank/Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 6-4, 7-5, 6-3
Gilles Simon (FRA) d. Eduardo Schwank (ARG) 7-6(5), 6-7(6), 6-3
Arnaud Clement (FRA) d. Horacio Zeballos (ARG) 7-5, 6-1
SERBIA defeated CZECH REPUBLIC 3-2
Venue: Belgrade Arena, Belgrade, Serbia (hard – indoors)
Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Viktor Troicki (SRB) 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 6-4
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 7-5, 6-2, 2-6, 7-6(5)
Tomas Berdych/Radek Stepanek (CZE) d. Novak Djokovic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1
Novak Djokovic (SRB) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d Radek Stepanek (CZE) 6-0, 7-6(6), 6-4
WORLD GROUP PLAY-OFFS
USA defeated COLOMBIA 3-1
Venue: Plaza de Toros La Santamaria, Bogota, Colombia (clay – outdoors)
Mardy Fish (USA) d. Alejandro Falla (COL) 4-6, 6-1, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4
Santiago Giraldo (COL) d. Sam Querrey (USA) 6-2, 6-4, 7-5
Mardy Fish/John Isner (USA) d. Robert Farah/Carlos Salamanca (COL) 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3
Mardy Fish (USA) d. Santiago Giraldo (COL) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5, 4-6, 8-6
Alejandro Falla (COL) v Sam Querrey (USA)
AUSTRIA defeated ISRAEL 3-2
Venue: Nokia Stadium, Tel Aviv, Israel (hard – indoors)
Dudi Sela (ISR) d. Andreas Haider-Maurer (AUT) 6-4, 6-1, 6-3
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Harel Levy (ISR) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Jonathan Erlich/Andy Ram (ISR) d. Jurgen Melzer/Alexander Peya (AUT) 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-4
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Dudi Sela (ISR) 6-4, 6-0, 6-3
Martin Fischer (AUT) d. Harel Levy (ISR) 2-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-3
GERMANY defeated SOUTH AFRICA 5-0
Venue: TC Weissenhof Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany (clay – outdoors)
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) d. Rik de Voest (RSA) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Florian Mayer (GER) d. Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 7-6(6)
Andreas Beck/Christopher Kas (GER) d. Rik de Voest/Wesley Moodie (RSA) 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Andreas Beck (GER) d. Izak van der Merwe (RSA) 7-5, 6-2
Florian Mayer (GER) d. Rik de Voest (RSA) 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-2
SWEDEN defeated ITALY 3-2
Venue: Sparbanken Lidkoping Arena, Lidkoping, Sweden (hard – indoors)
Potito Starace (ITA) d. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Fabio Fognini (ITA) 6-1, 6-3, 6-2
Simon Aspelin/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) d. Simone Bolelli/Potito Starace (ITA) 5-7, 6-7(0), 7-6(4), 6-3, 7-5
Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Simone Bolelli (ITA) 6-3, 6-3, 6-3
Fabio Fognini (ITA) d. Andreas Vinciguerra (SWE) 61 63
INDIA defeated BRAZIL 3-2
Venue: SDAT Tennis Stadium, Chennai, India (hard – outdoors)
Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) d. Rohan Bopanna (IND) 6-7(2), 7-6(7), 7-5, 4-6, 10-8
Ricardo Mello (BRA) d. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 4-6, 6-2, 6-7(3), 6-2, 6-4
Mahesh Bhupathi/Leander Paes (IND) d. Marcelo Melo/Bruno Soares (BRA) 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-1
Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) 7-6(4), 4-0 ret. (heat)
Rohan Bopanna (IND) d. Ricardo Mello (BRA) 6-3, 7-6(2), 6-3
AUSTRALIA leads BELGIUM 2-1 (play to resume at 10:00 on Monday)
Venue: Cairns Regional Tennis Centre, Cairns, Australia (hard – outdoors)
Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 7-6(4), 7-5, 2-6, 6-4
Olivier Rochus (BEL) d. Carsten Ball (AUS) 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(5)
Paul Hanley/Lleyton Hewitt (AUS) d. Ruben Bemelmans/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 6-1, 6-2, 6-4
Peter Luczak (AUS) v Olivier Rochus (BEL) 4-4 suspended (due to rain)
Carsten Ball (AUS) v Ruben Bemelmans (BEL)
KAZAKHSTAN defeated SWITZERLAND 5-0
Venue: The National Tennis Centre, Astana, Kazakhstan (hard – indoors)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-4, 6-4, 6-4
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 1-6, 6-3
Andrey Golubev/Yuriy Schukin (KAZ) d. Yves Allegro/Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Michael Lammer (SUI) 6-3, 6-2
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Marco Chiudinelli (SUI) 6-2, 64
ROMANIA defeated ECUADOR 5-0
Venue: Centrul National de Tenis, Bucharest, Romania (clay – outdoors)
Victor Hanescu (ROU) d. Ivan Endara (ECU) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
Adrian Ungur (ROU) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-7(2), 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 6-1
Victor Hanescu/Horia Tecau (ROU) d. Ivan Endara/Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
Victor Crivoi (ROU) d. Giovanni Lapentti (ECU) 6-2, 6-4
Adrian Ungur (ROU) d. Emilio Gomez (ECU) 6-3, 6-4
EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFFS
SLOVAK REPUBLIC defeated BELARUS 4-1
Venue: Republic Olympic Training Center for Tennis, Minsk, Belarus (hard – outdoors)
Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) d. Martin Klizan (SVK) 7-6(9), 6-2, 6-2
Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Siarhei Betau (BLR) 6-0, 6-4, 6-4
Michael Mertinak/Filip Polasek (SVK) d. Uladzimir Ignatik/Max Mirnyi (BLR) 7-6(5), 7-6(6), 3-6, 4-6, 6-4
Lukas Lacko (SVK) d. Uladzimir Ignatik (BLR) 6-1, 3-6, 6-1, 6-7(7), 6-4
Martin Klizan (SVK) d. Siarhei Betau (BLR) 7-6(2), 6-2
POLAND defeated LATVIA 3-2
Venue: Olympic Sports Centre, Riga, Latvia (carpet – indoors)
Michal Przysiezny (POL) d. Andis Juska (LAT) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2
Mariusz Fyrstenberg/Marcin Matkowski (POL) d. Andis Juska/Deniss Pavlovs (LAT) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(4)
Ernests Gulbis (LAT) d. Michael Przysiezny (POL) 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-2, 7-5
Jerzy Janowicz (POL) d. Karlis Lejnieks (LAT) 7-5, 6-4, 7-6(3)
AMERICAS ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFF
CANADA defeated DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 4-0
Venue: Rexall Centre – Grandstand Court, Toronto, Canada (hard – outdoors)
Peter Polansky (CAN) d. Jhonson Garcia (DOM) 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
Milos Raonic (CAN) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 7-6(3), 9-7
Frank Dancevic/Daniel Nestor (CAN) d. Victor Estrella/Jhonson Garcia (DOM) 6-3, 6-4, 6-3
Peter Polansky (CAN) d. Victor Estrella (DOM) 6-1, 6-2
Milos Raonic (CAN) v Jhonson Garcia (DOM)
ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP I SECOND ROUND PLAY-OFF
PHILIPPINES defeated KOREA, REP. 3-2
Venue: Chanwon Municipal Tennis Courts, Changwon, Korea, Rep. (hard – outdoors)
Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) d. Treat Huey (PHI) 6_7(8), 6-2, 7-6(7), 7-6(4)
Suk-Young Jeong (KOR) d. Cecil Mamiit (PHI) 0-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2
Cecil Mamiit / Treat Huey (PHI) d. Hyun-Joon Kim/Jae-Min Seol (KOR) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4
Cecil Mamiit (PHI) d. Yong-Kyu Lim (KOR) 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 1-1 ret.
Treat Huey (PHI) d. Suk-Young Jeong (KOR) 7-5, 7-5, 6-3
EUROPE/AFRICA ZONE GROUP II THIRD ROUND
SLOVENIA defeated LITHUANIA 3-2
Venue: SEB Arena, Vilnius, Lithuania (hard – indoors)
Richard Berankis (LTU) d. Blaz Kavcic (SLO) 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(9), 6-4
Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3
Richard Berankis/Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) d. Grega Zemla/Luka Gregorc (SLO) 5-7, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
Grega Zemlja (SLO) d. Richard Berankis (LTU) 7-6(2), 6-4, 6-3
Blaz Kavcic (SLO) d. Laurynas Grigelis (LTU) 6-4, 7-6(4), 7-6(5)
PORTUGAL defeated BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA 3-1
Venue: Centro de Tenis Do Jamor, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal (clay – outdoors)
Frederico Gil (POR) d. Amer Delic (BIH) 6-3, 6-4, 6-7(14), 3-6, 9-7
Aldin Setkic (BIH) d. Rui Machado (POR) 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-1
Frederico Gil/Leonardo Tavares (POR) d. Amer Delic/Aldin Setkic (BIH) 6-1, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4
Frederico Gil (POR) d. Aldin Setkic (BIH) 6-4, 6-3, 6-3
Rui Machado (POR) v Amer Delic (BIH)
AMERICAS ZONE GROUP II FINAL
MEXICO defeated VENEZUELA 4-0
Venue: Rafael El Pelon Osuna, Delg. Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico (clay – outdoors)
Daniel Garza (MEX) d. Roman Recarte (VEN) 6-2, 6-2, 6-2
Cesar Ramirez (MEX) d. Jose De Armas (VEN) 6-1, 6-3, 6-3
Bruno Rodriguez/Miguel Angel Reyes Varela (MEX) d. Jose De Armas/Piero Luisi (VEN) 7-6(2), 6-3, 6-2
Daniel Garza (MEX) d. Luis David Martinez (VEN) 6-4. 6-1
Cesar Ramirez (MEX) v Piero Luisi (VEN)
ASIA/OCEANIA ZONE GROUP II FINAL
NEW ZEALAND defeated THAILAND 3-2
Venue: National Tennis Development Centre (LTAT), Nontheburi, Thailand (hard – outdoors)
Michael Venus (NZL) d. Weerapat Doakmaiklee (THA) 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(1)
Jose Statham (NZL) d. Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) 4-6,, 7-6(5), 6-1, 7-6(2)
Sanchai Ratiwatana/Sonchat Ratiwatana (THA) d. Daniel King-Turner/Michael Venus (NZL) 0-6, 6-7(6), 6-0, 6-3, 6-4
Kittiphong Wachiramanowong (THA) d. Michael Venus (NZL) 7-5, 7-6(6), 6-2
Jose Statham (NZL) d. Sanchai Ratiwatana (THA) 6-1, 6-4, 6-3
Topics: Arnaud Clement, Captain Patrick, David Nalbandian, Eventful Weekend, Gael Monfils, Group Status, Janko Tipsarevic, John Isner, Juan Monaco, Mardy Fish, Michael Llodra, National Team Competition, Novak Djokovic, Patrick Mcenroe, Radek Stepanek, Rubber Fish, Santiago Giraldo, Team Mates, Thomas Berdych, Upset Stomach