Czech Republic and Spain into Davis Cup decider
September 20th 2009 12:45
SPAIN and the Czech Republic are the final nations left in the Davis Cup after both needed only three rubbers to barnstorm their way into December’s final.
But that was where the similarities in their victories ended.
Defending champion Spain, courtesy of former top-five baseliners David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero, crushed overachiever Israel in the singles match-ups.
They conceded a combined 14 games over six sets against Harel Levy and Dudi Sela respectively.
Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo finished Israel off in the doubles with a 7-6 (6) 6-7 (7) 6-4 6-2 result over Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
Ferrer gave Spain a 4-0 lead tonight with a 6-3 6-1 win in the first dead rubber, while Lopez and Levy are currently duking it out in the final rubber.
Czech Republic veteran Radek Stepanek and team-mate Tomas Berdych, on the other hand, required five sets apiece to edge big-serving Croats Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cilic respectively.
Berdych looked set for a straight-forward victory over Cilic, who made the quarter-finals of this year’s US Open, after taking a two-sets-to-love lead, but the latter sent the contest into a fifth set.
But the much-maligned Czech rose to the occasion against the world No.15 to close the match out 6-3.
Stepanek and Berdych returned to the court a day later to thump Croatia’s makeshift doubles team of Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-1 6-3 6-4.
Czech Jan Hajek beat Roko Karanusic 7-6 (4) 6-4 to maintain his country’s unbeaten run in the tie.
The Czech Republic will contest its first David Cup final since 1980, which remains its sole victory in the teams’ competition.
Spain will host the final – no doubt on clay – and should have too much talent for the hard-working Czech combination of Stepanek and Berdych.
Neither Czech player has advanced past the round of 16 at Roland Garros.
And top-tenners Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco could further strengthen Spain for the final.
But the Czech Republic must be admired just for reaching the final and adds another top-line achievement to the often unappreciated Stepanek’s career.
Thirty-year-old Stepanek is a former world No.8 and was a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2006.
But that was where the similarities in their victories ended.
Defending champion Spain, courtesy of former top-five baseliners David Ferrer and Juan Carlos Ferrero, crushed overachiever Israel in the singles match-ups.
They conceded a combined 14 games over six sets against Harel Levy and Dudi Sela respectively.
Feliciano Lopez and Tommy Robredo finished Israel off in the doubles with a 7-6 (6) 6-7 (7) 6-4 6-2 result over Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram.
Ferrer gave Spain a 4-0 lead tonight with a 6-3 6-1 win in the first dead rubber, while Lopez and Levy are currently duking it out in the final rubber.
David Ferrer kicked off Spain's triumph over Israel with victory in the opening singles rubber.
Czech Republic veteran Radek Stepanek and team-mate Tomas Berdych, on the other hand, required five sets apiece to edge big-serving Croats Ivo Karlovic and Marin Cilic respectively.
Berdych looked set for a straight-forward victory over Cilic, who made the quarter-finals of this year’s US Open, after taking a two-sets-to-love lead, but the latter sent the contest into a fifth set.
But the much-maligned Czech rose to the occasion against the world No.15 to close the match out 6-3.
Stepanek and Berdych returned to the court a day later to thump Croatia’s makeshift doubles team of Cilic and Lovro Zovko 6-1 6-3 6-4.
Czech Jan Hajek beat Roko Karanusic 7-6 (4) 6-4 to maintain his country’s unbeaten run in the tie.
Czech veteran Radek Stepanek won a singles and doubles rubber in his country's win over Croatia.
The Czech Republic will contest its first David Cup final since 1980, which remains its sole victory in the teams’ competition.
Spain will host the final – no doubt on clay – and should have too much talent for the hard-working Czech combination of Stepanek and Berdych.
Neither Czech player has advanced past the round of 16 at Roland Garros.
And top-tenners Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco could further strengthen Spain for the final.
But the Czech Republic must be admired just for reaching the final and adds another top-line achievement to the often unappreciated Stepanek’s career.
Thirty-year-old Stepanek is a former world No.8 and was a Wimbledon quarter-finalist in 2006.
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