Wednesday, April 03, 2013

Davis Cup: United States vs. Serbia



I know it's horribly unpatriotic of me to root for Serbia in the Davis Cup. But with Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troick representing the former war-torn nation, it's hard not to be a fan. 


Joined by their team captain Bogdan Obradovic, left, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, middle, and teammate Viktor Troicki joke around at a Tuesday, April 2, 2013, Davis Cup tennis news conference in Boise, Idaho. Serbia faces the United States in a Davis Cup match. (AP Photo/Idaho Press-Tribune, Greg Kreller)


Click HERE.

The preview: Serbia and USA have met just once before, in Belgrade in 2010, and it was the hosts who prevailed as they set the ball rolling on a campaign that brought them their first Davis Cup title. USA, who last won the Davis Cup in 2007, will be looking to avenge that defeat and reach the semifinals for the second year running. Serbia reached the quarterfinals with little fuss after racing into an unassailable 3-0 lead against Belgium in the first round. Viktor Troicki and world No. 1 Novak Djokovic won their opening singles ties before Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic secured victory in the doubles. David Goffin and Steve Darcis earned a respectable scoreline for the hosts, defeating Boris Pashanski and Nenad Zimonjic, but it was too little too late as the 2010 champions coasted into the last eight for the fourth straight year. USA suffered a scare against Brazil in the first round after the visitors pegged back a 2-0 deficit. Bob and Mike Bryan were dealt their first defeat in a Davis Cup doubles rubber since 2008 by Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares on the middle Saturday before Thomaz Bellucci forced a tense decider by defeating John Isner. Sam Querrey kept a cool head to see USA into the quarterfinals, getting the better of Thiago Alves in four sets.

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