Djokovic leaves Davis Cup final in balance
Source: Agencies |
December 5, 2010, Sunday
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Print Edition
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ICE cool Novak Djokovic calmed Serbian nerves on Friday to level the Davis Cup final at 1-1 after teammate Janko Tipsarevic was thrashed by France's Gael Monfils in the Belgrade Arena.
Djokovic, whose country's hopes of winning the trophy for the first time rest heavily on his shoulders, outclassed Gilles Simon for a 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 victory played out to a soundtrack of beating drums and inflatable plastic batons.
Yesterday's doubles which, barring tweaks by either captain, will be between Serbians Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki and French pair Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra now takes on enormous significance in the 98th edition of the team event.
Djokovic could even be used in the doubles, such is the world No. 3's importance to Serbia's cause.
"The best choice is to have two Novaks but that's impossible, so that's why I need to choose another player," Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic told reporters.
Had there been two Djokovics on Friday Serbia would probably be well on its way to winning the title but as it turned out an expectant atmosphere in the 17,000-seater arena almost went flat as Tipsarevic imploded.
The bearded world No. 49 could hardly have started in worse fashion, however. He began with two feeble double faults and the errors continued to pour from his racket during a 1-6, 6-7 (4), 0-6 drubbing that left him fearing the ax for today's reverse singles.
"That never happened to me in my life," Tipsarevic said, referring to the double faults that had him staring at his strings in disbelief.
"Honestly, I don't know whether I should play (today) and what to expect, it's up to the captain."
Djokovic, whose country's hopes of winning the trophy for the first time rest heavily on his shoulders, outclassed Gilles Simon for a 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 victory played out to a soundtrack of beating drums and inflatable plastic batons.
Yesterday's doubles which, barring tweaks by either captain, will be between Serbians Nenad Zimonjic and Viktor Troicki and French pair Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra now takes on enormous significance in the 98th edition of the team event.
Djokovic could even be used in the doubles, such is the world No. 3's importance to Serbia's cause.
"The best choice is to have two Novaks but that's impossible, so that's why I need to choose another player," Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic told reporters.
Had there been two Djokovics on Friday Serbia would probably be well on its way to winning the title but as it turned out an expectant atmosphere in the 17,000-seater arena almost went flat as Tipsarevic imploded.
The bearded world No. 49 could hardly have started in worse fashion, however. He began with two feeble double faults and the errors continued to pour from his racket during a 1-6, 6-7 (4), 0-6 drubbing that left him fearing the ax for today's reverse singles.
"That never happened to me in my life," Tipsarevic said, referring to the double faults that had him staring at his strings in disbelief.
"Honestly, I don't know whether I should play (today) and what to expect, it's up to the captain."
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