Berdych draws Czechs level with Spain
Source: AFP |
November 18, 2012, Sunday
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TOMAS Berdych beat Spain's Nicolas Almagro in a four-hour five-setter in Prague on Friday to tie the Davis Cup final at 1-1 after day one and keep the Czech Republic's hopes alive.
Berdych, the world No. 6 and the Czech No. 1, beat 11th-ranked Almagro on the hardcourt of O2 Arena 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in three hours and 58 minutes.
In the first rubber of the day, world No. 5 David Ferrer put holder Spain 1-0 ahead after beating 37th-ranked Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 58 minutes.
"We are one-all, we have opened the chance for Sunday, no matter what happens tomorrow. That's a good step for us," Berdych said after the epic rubber. "I had more faith in myself today, that I'll make it, and that helped me get through the game."
In yesterday's doubles, Berdych and Stepanek will take on ATP Tour Finals winners Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, and Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil said both would be "100-percent ready".
"I'm ready to leave everything on the court, there's nothing to save energy for as this is the last event of the year," said Berdych.
In a game of fast-serving 27-year-olds, Berdych took the first set against Almagro with a single break but Almagro retaliated in the same way in the second.
A nervous exchange with the umpire and a verdict in Almagro's favor early into the third set turned the home crowd of more than 14,000 people against the Spaniard.
Berdych then capitalized on the frantic support and took the third set, but he let Almagro come back in the tie-break in the fourth, only to emerge as the winner after trading breaks in the fifth. "It was a really tough match, we played really good tennis," Almagro said.
Berdych, the world No. 6 and the Czech No. 1, beat 11th-ranked Almagro on the hardcourt of O2 Arena 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-3 in three hours and 58 minutes.
In the first rubber of the day, world No. 5 David Ferrer put holder Spain 1-0 ahead after beating 37th-ranked Radek Stepanek 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 58 minutes.
"We are one-all, we have opened the chance for Sunday, no matter what happens tomorrow. That's a good step for us," Berdych said after the epic rubber. "I had more faith in myself today, that I'll make it, and that helped me get through the game."
In yesterday's doubles, Berdych and Stepanek will take on ATP Tour Finals winners Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez, and Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil said both would be "100-percent ready".
"I'm ready to leave everything on the court, there's nothing to save energy for as this is the last event of the year," said Berdych.
In a game of fast-serving 27-year-olds, Berdych took the first set against Almagro with a single break but Almagro retaliated in the same way in the second.
A nervous exchange with the umpire and a verdict in Almagro's favor early into the third set turned the home crowd of more than 14,000 people against the Spaniard.
Berdych then capitalized on the frantic support and took the third set, but he let Almagro come back in the tie-break in the fourth, only to emerge as the winner after trading breaks in the fifth. "It was a really tough match, we played really good tennis," Almagro said.
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