Davis Cup Final Begins With Injuries The Main Topic

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 15th November 2013

Davis Cup Final Begins With Injuries The Main Topic

epa03945990 Serbia's Novak Djokovic reacts after winning a point against Spain's Rafael Nadal during the final of the men's singles of the Barclays ATP World Tour tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 11 November 2013. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

Serbia limps into the Davis Cup final with the Czech Republic after Janko Tipsarevic was ruled unfit to compete due to a chronic heel injury, leaving all of the heavy lifting to Novak Djokovic.

The 36th-ranked Tipsarevic has not played since hurting his heel last month in Valencia. He will be replaced on the home side by untried Dusan Lajovic, whose only experience was a dead 2012 rubber.

Djokovic was drawn to open the tie against Czech Radek Stepanek in the first singles rubber. Later, number 117 Lajovic will get his test of fire against world number seven Tomas Berdych.

For the moment, Serbia will rest Djokovic on Saturday, with Ilija Bozoljac and Nenad Zimonjic pencilled in to take over doubles duties against Jan Hajek and Lukas Rosol. But a year ago, it was Berdych and Stepanek who played that tie also in the victory over Spain in Prague.

In Sunday’s reverse singles. Djokovic will face Berdych in a battle of top 10 rivals while Lajovic is to play Stepanek.

Djokovic appears unworried by the job ahead after his London trophy success only three days ago. “I’ve played and won a lot of matches lately, which gives me a lot of confidence.”

Berdych, 13-1 in Davis doubles with Stepanek, would be ready to step in for doubles if required. “It’s the end of the season, and I may not be as physically fit as when it started, but I’m ready to play all three matches,” said Berdych.

Serbia is bidding to lift a second Davis Cup title after winning the event in 2010 while the Czech are into their third final in five years.

Topics: 10sballs, Atp, Davis Cup, Janko Tipsarevic, Lukas Rosol, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych