Czech Republic Beats Serbia To Win Davis Cup

Lawn Tennis, Ace Tennis Magazine, Lawn Tennis Magazine

Czech Republic Beats Serbia To Win Davis Cup
By Ken Miller, Lawn Tennis Analyst, Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2013 5:05pm PST USA

BELGRADE-- Sunday at Belgrade, Serbia, the Czech Republic beat local favorite Serbia to win its second Davis Cup title in as many years. The Czechs stopped Spain in last year's Davis Cup final at Prague.

The world number two Novak Djokovic of Serbia began the day Sunday by defeating Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 7-6, 6-2 to even the Davis Cup tie at 2-2 in match standings between the two nations.

But it was the 44th ranked Czech Radek Stepanek who topped the world number 117 Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 in the decisive match to put his country ahead 3-2 for the win.

The 34 year old Stepanek in recent years has made as many headlines for his off court results as he has with his on court results.

Stepanek was engaged to the former WTA Tour world number one Martina Hingis of Switzerland before they fizzled in 2007. He then married his fellow Czech and former top ten tennis player Nicole Vaidisova in 2010. They separated earlier this year. Stepanek is currently dating WTA Tour number six Petra Kvitova also of the Czech Republic.

Stepanek turned professional in 1996 and reached an ATP Tour high ranking of 8th ten years later in 2006.

Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic

Stepanek becomes the only Davis Cup player ever to decide final round play in the decisive match in consecutive years.

His best grand slam singles result was a 2006 Wimbledon quarterfinal finish where he lost in four sets to Jonas Bjorkman of Sweden.

The Czech has enjoyed more grand slam success in doubles where he won the 2012 Australian Open as well as this year's US Open doubles titles.

With his singles win Sunday, Stepanek becomes the only Davis Cup player ever to decide final round play in the decisive match in consecutive years as he also had done last year against Spain.