Serbia to face Czech Republic in Davis Cup final

Belgrade: Serbia will face defending champions the Czech Republic in the Davis Cup final after defeating Canada 3-2 in the semi-finals on Sunday.

Janko Tipsarevic led Serbia into their second final in four years after defeating Vasek Pospisil 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 7-6 (8/6). Earlier, world number one Novak Djokovic had beaten Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2 to level the tie at 2-2. Serbia, the 2010 champions, will host the November 15-17 final against the Czechs who defeated Argentina 3-2 in their semi-final in Prague. "Czech Republic is extremely difficult, they have Tomas Berdych who has been in the top 10 for years, they have Radek Stepanek who always plays good in Davis Cup, but we have Novak (Djokovic), Nenad (Zimonjic) and I hope we will have Victor back into our team," Tipsarevic said. Serbia are without Viktor Troicki, who is serving an 18-month doping ban handed down by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). After taking the first set, the 23rd-ranked Tipsarevic capitalised on the 41st-ranked Pospisil`s claycourt inexperience to breeze through the second. With the 10,000-strong crowd willing him on, Tipsarevic stretched out to 5-2 in the third set before Pospisil battled back for another tie-breaker. The Canadian saved four match points before Tipsarevic finally sealed victory. "I had a feeling it could have been much easier, but somehow I could not capitalise on my opportunities, but nevertheless I won and Serbia are in the final," Tipsarevic said after the match. Earlier, Djokovic got Serbia back into the match by defeating Raonic. Raonic put up a strong fight against Djokovic in the first set, but his hopes took a major blow when he lost the tiebreak 7-1. In the second set Djokovic took total command and convincingly made two service breaks. The third set was similar as Djokovic grabbed another two breaks to lead 4-0 before Raonic, who defeated Tipsarevic in an exhausting four-hour match on Friday, managed briefly to get back into the match with a break of his own. But Djokovic stepped up the pace again and broke on Raonic`s next serve. "I played at my own tempo from the very beginning and I knew the returns would be crucial, so I paid special attention to them," Djokovic said. Serbia`s coach Bogdan Obradovic couldn`t hide satisfaction as his team reached a second final in four years. "I could not expect anything better than this, turning Canada`s 2-1 lead into victory with two 3-0 wins, this is really a spectacular result," Obradovic said. AFP