C’MON GUYS, DO IT: France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga celebrates his win over Argentina’s Juan Monaco in their Davis Cup quarterfinal clash, in Buenos Aires on Saturday. Tsonga won 6-3, 6-3, 6-0. But despite his win, France were trailing the hosts 1-2. (AFP)
Reuters/Astana
Lukas Rosol beat Evgeny Korolev 7-6, 6-7, 7-6, 6-2 to give the Czech Republic an unassailable 3-1 lead over Kazakhstan and propel the defending champions into the Davis Cup semi-finals yesterday. |
Rosol battled Korolev, who had replaced Kazakh number one Mikhail Kukushkin for the first reverse singles, for more than three-and-a-half hours before sealing the quarter-final tie, played on clay at the National Indoor Tennis Centre in Astana.
The Czechs had built up a 2-0 lead after winning both of their singles matches on Friday but the home team avoided an early exit by taking Saturday’s doubles. The visitors were missing their top player, world number six Tomas Berdych, who pulled out of the tie after injuring his shoulder at last week’s Sony Open in Miami.
Kazakhstan shocked the Czechs 3-2 in their only previous Davis Cup encounter in Ostrava in 2011 when they made their debut in the World Group as an independent nation, but could not repeat their heroics this time.
The Central Asian country, whose entire line-up is made up of Russian-born players, put their faith in 187th-ranked Korolev for the crucial fourth rubber. Moscow-born Korolev, a cousin of former Russian number one Anna Kournikova, fought tooth and nail against his more experienced opponent for three sets before running out of steam.
After snatching the third set in a tie-breaker 7-5, Rosol broke a tired-looking Korolev twice in the fourth to clinch the match and the tie.
“I’m very proud of Lukas because it was one of the toughest matches for him as he does not have too many chances to play matches like this. He was the leader of this team this week,” Czech captain Jaroslav Navratil said.
Rosol, who beat Kazakh number two Andrey Golubev on Friday, added: “It’s a great feeling to win two matches for your country in Davis Cup in one weekend. Tomas Berdych had it last year and now I also know a little bit of this feeling.”
In September’s semi-finals, the Czechs face Argentina or France. Argentina led their quarter-final 2-1 going into the final day in Buenos Aires on Sunday.
Serbia, Canada eye semis
Idaho/Vancouver: Serbia and Canada both won marathon doubles matches on Saturday to seize control of their Davis Cup quarter-finals in North America. Both matches were decided in the 28th game of the fifth and final set as Serbia grabbed a 2-1 lead over the United States in Idaho and Canada led Italy by the same score in Vancouver.
The Serbian pair of Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac pulled off a stunning upset over Bob and Mike Bryan, the world’s top-ranked doubles team, 7-6, 7-6, 5-7, 4-6, 15-13. The result left the visitors on the verge of victory with world number one Novak Djokovic set to play in the first of the two reverse singles matches.
Australia, Japan in play-offs
Melbourne: Recalled wild child Bernard Tomic was the hero for Australia and Tatsuma Ito sealed a pulsating tie for Japan as both countries reached the Davis Cup World Group play-offs yesterday. Australia and Japan now go through to the World Group play-offs in September where they will try to seal a spot in the global team competition’s top tier next season.
India blank Indonesia 5-0
Bangalore: India and China enjoyed 5-0 whitewashes respectively against Indonesia and Taiwan, who will contest a relegation tie in September with the loser dropping to Asia/Oceania Group II. Somdev Devvarman defeated David Susanto 6-3, 6-1, before Yuki Bhambri brushed aside Wisnu Adi Nugroho 6-0, 6-1 in the inconsequential final day’s matches which were reduced to best-of-three sets.