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Davis Cup Finals 2013: Results, Reaction, Analysis and Star Performers
Published: November 18, 2013
For the second year in succession, it was Stepanek who assumed the role of hero in the decisive fifth rubber. The 34-year-old, who turns 35 this month, used a wealth of experience at his disposal to defeat Davis Cup novice Dusan Lajovic, who had been thrust into the limelight on the eve of the tie.
Serbia, led by Novak Djokovic, were fighting an uphill battle from day one.
With their No. 2 Janko Tipsarevic succumbing to a heel injury at the 11th hour and Viktor Troicki, who played an integral role in the Serb’s 2010 triumph, serving an 18-month suspension for missing a drug test, the hosts were down to the bare bones at Belgrade Arena.
But with Djokovic in the side, Serbia always stood a fighting chance, and the world No. 2 got them off to a flier on Friday with victory over Stepanek. Berdych responded for the visitors with a straight-sets win of his own over world No. 117 Lajovic to leave the tie balanced at 1-1 heading into Saturday’s crucial doubles tie.
There were rumours abound that Djokovic would line out alongside doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic, but captain Bogdan Obradovic went with the tried-and-tested team of Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac.
The duo were powerless to stop Berdych and Stepanek, as the Czechs produced a masterful display to take a vital 2-1 lead.
Stepanek, never one to mince his words, said Obradovic’s decision to leave Djokovic on the sidelines was like "leaving a Ferrari in the garage," per Zoran Milosavljevic of Reuters via Yahoo!.
While Stepanek may have had a point, Djokovic’s experiences on the doubles court have been fairly limited, and even he may have been powerless to slow the C...
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Tennis
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