Tennis: Viktor Troicki turns in career-best display to seal Serbian Davis Cup victory

Published on Sunday 5 December 2010 19:00

Viktor Troicki sealed Serbia's first Davis Cup title with a straight-sets win over Michael Llodra in the decisive fifth rubber in Belgrade yesterday.

Troicki, the world number 30, won 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 after Novak Djokovic had earlier levelled the tie with a similarly dominant win over Gael Monfils.

Troicki's success sent a partisan home crowd into wild celebrations after the 24-year-old, who was born in the city, had been drafted in to replace Janko Tipsarevic for the do-or-die encounter.

Troicki responded with arguably the finest match of his young career as he revelled in the home support and outplayed a French opponent ranked seven places higher than him.

"I am in shock. After the last shot I really couldn't believe that this happened," said Troicki.

"I think for the next few days I will still feel a little bit different. It will be maybe five days until I will feel the real expression and the real feeling of this win.

"This is the most intense pressure in my life and to win it in front of my home crowd I think is the best possible way.

"I don't have any words, seriously - it's unbelievable. I don't have the words."

The mood inside the Belgrade Arena had already been stoked after an emotional 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 win from Djokovic, who wore his heart on his sleeve in typical style.

But it was Troicki, rather than the world No 3, who will be remembered as the man who delivered Serbia their first Davis Cup crown after his stirring performance.

Serbia captain Bogdan Obradovic made the brave decision to call up Troicki just a day after he and doubles partner Nenad Zimonjic surrendered a two-set lead to lose and give France a 2-1 advantage in the tie.

Troicki had looked nervous in the key moments of that match, but he showed no signs of making the same mistakes again as he rode a wave of support. He broke Llodra, himself a replacement for Giles Simon, in the third game with the type of passing shot that would mark his success. A second break immediately followed and, with the crowd roaring their approval, he sealed the opener with another superb winner. Llodra reached the semi-finals in Paris last month when he beat Djokovic and he showed signs of his good form early in the second when he broke to go 2-0 ahead.

It proved the beginning of the end for the Frenchman, however, as he conceded the next eight games in the match.Troicki was irresistible as he broke on three consecutive occasions to seal the second set before moving immediately ahead in the third.

The crowd were now in an expectant mood and Llodra looked willing to concede as he double faulted to allow a double break.

The Frenchman delayed the inevitable when he broke back, but it was short-lived as Troicki fittingly won the match with a cross-court backhand.