BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) The Czech Republic swept past Serbia in the doubles for a 2-1 lead in the Davis Cup final on Saturday, leaving them one victory away from retaining the cup.
Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pair's impressive cup doubles record to 14-1.
Berdych plays Novak Djokovic, on a 23-match winning run, in the first reverse singles on Sunday, and the final could be decided when Stepanek likely meets cup rookie Dusan Lajovic in the final rubber.
"I am in the best possible position after Saturday," said Berdych, who has beaten Djokovic only twice in 16 encounters, and never on a hard court. "I have nothing to lose. I am going to go there and fight for each point."
Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic said Zimonjic and Bozoljac gave their best, but lost against a better pair.