11. 07. 2010. ·
Photo: Srdjan Stevanovic
Novak Djokovic leads Serbia into World Group semifinals
Novak Djokovic brought the third point to Serbia against Croatia in their Davis Cup by BNP Paribas quarter-final tie. He clinched a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 victory over world no.13 Marin Cilic in 2 hours and 23 minutes to hand his country a place in the semifinals for the first time in its history!
Novak raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set with a double break. He missed three set points in the sixth game and two more in the seventh game when Cilic broke once back. The 23-year-old Belgrade native used his sixth set point and took the set 6-3 in 45 minutes.
The world no.2 made a break already in the opening game of the second set and then held to love with an ace for 2-0. Djokovic converted his break point chance in the fifth game and then extended his lead to 5-1. Croatian no.1 broke Novak’s serve in the eighth game but the Serb broke back immediately to clinch the set 6-3.
There were four breaks in the third set, Nole made three. Game, set, match – Novak Djokovic, SERBIA!
“Personally, I had a lot of responsibility with the package that I carried on my back before this tie, but right now I feel so relieved that we won,” said Djokovic after the victory. “We won in one of the toughest atmospheres against a team that has a lot of success in this competition.”
Listen to Novak’s audio interview here!
Serbia will face Czech Republic in Serbia in semifinal tie (17 Sep – 19 Sep 2010). The Czech’s defeated Chile in Coquimbo 4-1.
Janko Tipsarevic beat Antonio Veic 6-2, 7-6 in the dead fifth rubber, so the final score is 4-1 for Serbia.
Results:
SERBIA vs CROATIA 4-1
Novak Djokovic (SRB) – Ivan Ljubicic (CRO) 7-6 (3) 6-4 6-1
Marin Cilic (CRO) – Viktor Troicki (SRB) 6-4 7-5 6-2
N. Zimonjic/J. Tipsarevic (SRB) – M. Cilic/I. Dodig (CRO) 6-3 6-2 6-4
Novak Djokovic (SRB) – Marin Cilic (CRO) 6-3 6-3 6-2
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) – Antonio Veic (CRO) 6-2 7-6 (5)
