Berdych leads Czechs into Davis Cup final

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) –

Czech Republic’s tennis player Tomas Berdych returns the ball to Argentina’s Carlos Berlocq, during their 2012 Davis Cup semifinals singles match, at Parque Roca stadium in Buenos Aires. Berdych defeated Berlocq 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday as the Czech Republic secured a 3-1 win over Argentina in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

Tomas Berdych defeated Carlos Berlocq 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday as the Czech Republic secured a 3-1 win over Argentina in the Davis Cup semi-finals.

The Czechs, whose only Davis Cup title came in 1980, will face defending champions Spain at home in the November 16-18 final.

Five-time champions Spain beat the United States 3-1 in Gijon to reach their sixth final in 10 years.

Berlocq, the world number 45, had been called in to play the singles on Saturday after world number eight Juan Martin Del Potro injured his left wrist in his win over Radek Stepanek in Friday’s opening singles.

November’s final will be a repeat of the 2009 championship match where Spain routed the Czechs 5-0 on clay in Barcelona.

“People think it’s impossible to win in Argentina, but we had belief and proved that it is possible,” said Berdych, who beat Roger Federer on his way to the US Open semi-finals earlier this month.

“It was a crazy crowd here, but the win gives us great hope for the future. We weren’t the favourites.

“However, I have been playing well, beating Federer in New York. So I was feeling really good and I wanted to show that my game was shaping up well.”