Czechs lead Serbia in Davis Cup semifinal

BELGRADE, Serbia, Sept. 18 (UPI) -- The duo of Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek registered a victory Saturday, giving the Czech Republic a 2-1 Davis Cup semifinal lead over Serbia.

Berdych and Stepanek bounced back after losing the first set of the doubles match to defeat the Serbian tandem of Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, 6-1, putting the Czechs one win away from a meeting with France in December's Davis Cup final.

France posted a decisive 3-0 lead over Argentina in Saturday's other Davis Cup semifinal.

U.S. Open finalist Djokovic wasn't available for Serbia Friday due to illness, and his replacement, Viktor Troicki, lost to Stepanek in four sets.

The Serbs pulled even at 1-1 when Janko Tipsarevic engineered a four set win over Berdych, but Berdych and Stepanek rebounded for the crucial doubles win Saturday in Belgrade.

Djokovic was likely to play for Serbia in Sunday's do-or-die first reverse singles match against Berdych, with Stepanek probable for the Czech Republic against either Troicki or Tipsarevic if a fifth and deciding rubber singles match is needed.