Novak Djokovic wins as Serbia level with Canada in Davis Cup semis
Milos Raonic put up a strong fight against Novak Djokovic in the first set, but his hopes took a major blow when he lost the tiebreak 7-1, losing the rubber 7-6 6-2 6-2.
World number one Novak Djokovic kept Serbia alive in the Davis Cup semi-final match against Canada on Sunday by defeating Milos Raonic 7-6 (7/1), 6-2, 6-2.
Raonic put up a strong fight against Djokovic in the first set, but his hopes took a major blow when he lost the tiebreak 7-1.
In the second set Djokovic took total command and convincingly made two service breaks.
The third set was similar as Djokovic grabbed another two breaks to lead 4-0 before Raonic, who defeated Janko Tipsarevic in an exhausting four-hour match on Friday, managed briefly to get back into the match with a break of his own.
But Djokovic stepped up the pace again and broke on Raonic's next serve.
"I played at my own tempo from the very beginning and I knew the returns would be crucial, so I paid special attention to them," Djokovic said as he urged the crowd in Belgrade Arena to support Janko Tipsarevic's bid to take Serbia into final.
"We brought this match into the fifth rubber and I hope Janko will complete the job," Djokovic said.
Tipsarevic was facing Vasek Pospisil in a decisive rubber that would either take Serbia into the Davis Cup final for the second time in four years or boost Canada into their first ever.