Serbia To Face France In Davis Cup Final

Serbia reached their first Davis Cup final as they won the final two singles rubbers to edge a tight contest with last year's runners up Czech Republic.

Janko Tipsarevic sealed the win as he came through against Radek Stepanek in the decisive rubber on Sunday, winning 6-0 7-6 (8-6) 6-4.

Serbia were 2-1 down on the Czech Republic at the beginning of the final day as the home side lost Saturday's doubles rubber after the it finished one win a piece after the first round of singles rubbers.

U.S. Open finalist Novak Djokovic was out of action on Friday due to illness but he delighted the home crowd in Belgrade as he took to the court in the first match on Sunday against Tomas Berdych.

Berdych had lost his opening match of the tie on Friday and was looking to redeem himself, and he made the perfect start when he broke the world number two in the seventh game of the opener to clinch the set 6-4.

And Djokovic's serve was under pressure once again in the fifth game of the second but a great scoop sot from Djokovic got him back in contention in the game and seemed to turn the match.

Djokovic broke in the eighth game to lead 5-3 before holding serve to level the match at a set a piece, much to the delight of the crowd.

It was all about the world number two in the third set as she steam rolled through it dropping just two games.

But Berdych re-grouped at the beginning of the fourth as the first eight games went with serve but it was Djokovic who struck in the ninth game to break before serving the match out.

With a 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 under his belt Djokovic had levelled the match at two rubbers a piece, leaving them just one match away from the final.

And it was all about Tipsarevic in the opening set of the final tie as he handed Stepanek at bagel set and he was firmly in control of the match.

But he was forced to come from 3-1 down in the second set tie break to hold onto his advantage, he eventually took the breaker 8-6, after saving a set point, to leave him a set from victory.

Tipsarevic raced to a 4-0 lead in the third before Stepanek took three games on the bounce to cut his lead to 4-3.

But Tipsarevic was not to be denied as he wrapped up a fine 6-0 7-6 (8-6) 6-4 victory.

Serbia will now face France in the Davis Cup final as they comfortably saw off 2008 runners up Argentina in a 5-0 whitewash.

Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement ended Argentina's hopes in the Saturday's doubles match as they saw off Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos 6-4 7-5 6-3 for an unassailable 3-0 lead in the tie.

France were 2-0 up after the first round of singles as both Gael Monfils and Llodra had enjoyed victories.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw