Novak Djokovic digs deep to keep Serbian hopes alive in Davis Cup clash

The world number two looked down and out when he suffered a serious-looking knee problem midway through the second set, having lost the first.

But he battled through and went from strength to strength to win 4-6 6-3 6-2 6-4 as Berdych struggled to find anything left in the tank.

Djokovic dropped serve in game seven to lose the first set 6-4, and was under pressure at 15-30 in the fifth game of the second and with Berdych looking more comfortable all round.

But a stunning shot to scoop up what looked a certain forehand winner from Berdych and deposit the ball back at Berdych's feet seemed to turn the match on its head.

The Czech netted the ensuing volley to lift both the home crowd and Djokovic, who went on to hold a vital service game.

But the runner-up at last week's US Open damaged his knee in the next game as he lunged to retrieve a smash and, after a break for treatment which lasted seven minutes, was forced to dig in thereafter in a series of lengthy rallies.

He broke to lead 5-3 and then served out the set before powering through the next 6-2 with three breaks of the unusually vulnerable Berdych serve.

Berdych recovered from 0-30 to hold in game seven and keep the fourth set on serve - but Djokovic made the breakthrough in his opponent's next service game to lead 5-4.

And he served out to love in imperious style to complete a four-set win in three hours and 14 minutes and level the tie at 2-2, with Janko Tipsarevic to face Radek Stepanek in the decider.

The clash between France and Argentina in Lyon was already over after Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra's straight-sets doubles win over Eduardo Schwank and Horacio Zeballos yesterday made it 3-0 in the tie.

Simon won his singles dead rubber against Schwank in three sets yesterday, both players trading tie-break victories before Simon completed a 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (6/8) 6-3 win in two hours and 32 minutes.