Serbia Beats Russia; Czech Republic Leads USA

Written by: Staff on 22nd May 2012

Serbia Beats Russia; Czech Republic Leads USA |

Courtesy of ATP

By: ATP Staff

Original link: ( http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2012/05/21/Dusseldorf-Tuesday-Troicki-Tipsarevic-In-Action-For-Serbia.aspx )

Straight-sets wins for Viktor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic gave Serbia victory over Russia in the Power Horse World Team Cup on Tuesday in Dusseldorf. Serbia also defeated Croatia in its opening match and now has a 2-0 record in the Blue Group.

The No. 31-ranked Troicki surrendered just seven points on serve as he raced to a 6-3, 6-2 victory in 63 minutes over Dmitry Tursunov. World No. 8 Tipsarevic then wrapped up victory for 2009 champion Serbia by defeating Alex Bogomolov Jr. , 6-1, 6-3 in 61 minutes.

Host nation and defending champion Germany made a winning start to its second Blue Group clash as Florian Mayer dismissed Croatia’s Ivan Dodig 6-1, 6-1 in 64 minutes. The No. 35-ranked Mayer had won only two clay-court matches this season coming into Dusseldorf, where Germany has won the title five times.

“Today, I was the old Flo again,” said Mayer. “This is how I played last year at this time of the year. Perfect attitude, didn’t get upset, kept fighting and played great. So, there’s nothing I’m not happy about.”

World No. 7 Tomas Berdych maintained his good form, defeating American Andy Roddick 6-1, 6-2 in just 61 minutes. The Czech player earned his country a 1-0 lead in this Red Group clash as he hit 12 aces and broke serve four times from five opportunities. Radek Stepanek then clinched the tie for the Czech Republic, beating James Blake 6-2, 6-1 with 54 minutes.

The 26-year-old Berdych has a 14-4 record in Dusseldorf and helped the Czech Republic to the final in 2007 (l. to Argentina). He came into the team competition on the back of a runner-up showing in Madrid (l. to Federer) and a quarter-final effort in Rome (l. to Nadal).

“I’m here to help our team do as best as we can, to try to win it,” said Berdych. “We need at least two points and so far we have one. So, that’s the goal. I think the best way to be ready [for Roland Garros] is to play matches and win matches.”

Argentina got off to a winning start in its second Red Group match as Leonardo Mayer defeated Japan’s Tatsuma Ito 6-4, 6-4. The four-time former champion beat the United States in its first tie.

Topics: Janko Tipsarevic, Power Horse World Team Cup, Viktor Troicki