Djokovic-Led Serbia Set to Face Czech Republic in Davis Cup Finals

November 14, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Adam Wolfthal

Novak Djokovic will face Radek Stepanek in the opening singles Friday when Serbia faces defending champion Czech Republic in the 2013 Davis Cup final. In Thursday's draw, Serbian reserve Dusan Lajovic was picked to play Tomas Berdych in the second singles match on a hard court in Belgrade Arena. Lajovic, ranked 117th in the world, will replace Janko Tipsarevic, who will miss the Davis Cup finals with a heel injury.

The Czech Republic will play without 58-year-old captain Jaroslav Navratil who has been hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism. The Czech team will be made up of world number six Tomas Berdych, Lukas Rosol (world number 43), Stepanek (45) and Jan Hajek (105).

They will be playing in a third final in five years after defeating Argentina 3-2 in the semifinals while Serbia defeated Canada 3-2 in the semis as well. It will mark the third encounter between the two nations in the Davis Cup. Serbia won the 2010 semi-finals in Belgrade 3-2, while the Czechs were better in the quarterfinals in Prague in 2012, winning 4-1.

Serbia will be led by world number two Djokovic, and will be captained by Bogdan Obradovic. Joining the duo will be Ilija Bozoljac (237), Lajovic (117), Boris Pasanski (481) and Filip Krajinovic (223).


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Century
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