Janko Tipsarevic beat James Ward 6-2, 3-6, 7-5 in Sunday’s fifth match of the Serbia vs Great Britain Davis Cup quarterfinal tie. “To get your first Davis Cup win is something, to get two in one weekend is something very special indeed”.
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And in Saturday’s doubles rubber, Wimbledon champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert beat Radek Stepanek and Rosol in five sets.
Argentina lead 2-1 after the second day in Pesaro, Italy, thanks to a five-set victory for Juan Martin Del Potro and Guido Pella over Fabio Fognini and Paolo Lorenzi.
Indeed that was the state of play in all four quarter-finals.
First he was distracted by noise from the crowd when he threatened another break at 2-2, and then he found himself facing a first break point.
Again it would be the doubles that proved so compelling and important.
World number 10 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga made amends for his defeat to Lukas Rosol in Friday’s opening rubber by defeating Jiri Vesely 4-6 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 7-5 in three hours and 28 minutes to clinch France an unassailable lead. “It’s one of the heaviest clay courts I’ve ever played on, it doesn’t suit my game at all”.
His first Davis Cup experience was as demanding as it comes: GB’s final, away from home against Belgium, and facing world No11 David Goffin.
Tipsarevic beat James Ward in the remaining rubber, with Serbia already eliminated. “His serve is better, his backhand is rock solid”.
The first set was done in little more than half an hour, 6-3, and he broke in the seventh game of the second set after defending his first break point of the match.
The Brits took the momentum of winning the third set into the next set as they broke Krajinovic’s serve to get off to the best possible start.
He hinted that Krajinovic, who had not played a match since May because of injury, was also far from 100 per cent, and the 24-year-old looked distinctly rusty as Britain raced through the opening set with the sun finally shining over the Tasmajdan Stadium.
Britain will likely be able to welcome back three-time Grand Slam champion Murray for their semi-final encounter with Argentina in a more familiar environment at home in September – a tie which should give Britain a decent chance of making the final for the second year in succession.
Inglot said of his maiden win: “It feels really good”.
‘I thought he played great in both of the matches.
Afterwards, Edmund said: “When you’re out there you are so in the moment. I’m happy I regrouped and won in the tie-break”.
It was the first French victory in the Davis Cup on Czech soil since 1926 and puts them into the last for the fourth time in seven years.
“The fact that they won will give them so much confidence”. He knows how to play on clay.
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The British pair started strongly and raced into an early lead against their Serb opponents, who were playing together for the first time.
