Serbia may be without one of its staple performers when it hosts the Czech Republic in this weekend’s Davis Cup final. A slumping Janko Tipsarevic, who won the clinching point for the Serbs in September’s semifinal win over Canada, has been dealing with a heel injury.
“I’m still in the recovery process,” Tipsarevic said during Wednesday’s pre-draw press conference. “It’s not been a great couple of weeks for me. I tried practicing a little bit without any pain, but hopefully we will sit down tonight and make a final decision whether or not I am going to play and what is going to happen.”
It has actually been a bad couple of months–not weeks–for the world No. 36. Since losing to David Ferrer in a fourth-round U.S. Open thriller, Tipsarevic is a disastrous 1-5 in tournament play. He retired from his opening match in Valencia late last month.
While Serbia is a question mark, the defending champion Czechs have all hands on deck–most importantly Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek. However, Lukas Rosol is an option to face Novak Djokovic in Friday’s singles action. Rosol teamed up with Berdych to win the longest doubles match in tennis history against Switzerland in the first round back in February.
Even with Tipsarevic reeling, Berdych says Serbia is the favorite.
“They are playing at home, and Novak is on the team,” Berdych noted. “That is enough for their advantage…. It’s the end of the season, and I may not be as physically fit as when it started, but I’m ready to play all three matches. Many players are already on holiday, but I bet many would change their position with us to play in the Davis Cup final.”
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It really sucks that Serbia will be without Janko Tipsarevic this year for the Davis Cup finals. However I think that Serbia will come through in the end 3-2. Janko is a talented player and I think 2014 will be a great season for him.
Serbia has to win 3-1 for it to win
I thought a team in Davis Cup can win an event 3-2, or is that 4-2? In any case I believe you right. Tough task for the Serbs, but I think they can pull off a win.
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will do
Thanks.
also I just mean that Serbia isn’t going to win 3-2 cause the 5th rubber is Berdych vs lajovic. Either Serbia wins 3-1 or Czechs win 3-2.
Ya your totally right.. Was just thinking about that right now.
Doubles wins this and assuming that’s B-B-B-Berdych and the Carp, I give the nod to the Czechs in five.