The pressure of producing in this Davis Cup final has always been on Novak Djokovic. Now, the Serbian hero faces a lot more of it.
Janko Tipsarevic did his country no favors by going down in straight sets to Gael Monfils, 6-1, 7-6 (4), 6-0. Monfils should enter his match against Djokovic on Sunday—if the tie is still up for the taking, I suppose—full of confidence and fairly well-rested. The Frenchman played smart tennis, letting Tipsarevic dig his own grave with rashes of unforced errors. As tempting as it may have been for Monfils, the tour's Harlem Globetrotter, to strut his stuff in front of the opposing crowd, he kept things simple and took advantage of his out-of-sync opponent.
The Serb targeted Monfils' backhand throughout the match, but Le Monf's defense was superior, forcing Tipsarevic to overhit. He didn't find the lines often enough. Tipsarevic's only chances for success came in the second set. He had two break points—but missed both—and engaged Monfils in a tiebreaker. On the first point, Monfils struck a serve that was called out but, after a replay challenge, was ruled in. Tipsarevic was very close to the ball, but Monfils was awarded the point. Serbian captain Bogan Obradovic and Tipsarevic contested the call, and I can't blame them—as definitive as Hawkeye is, it's anyone's guess as to what an umpire's decision is after a reversed call. A different official may have called for that point to be replayed; a first serve to Monfils.
Tipsarevic was unlucky there, but lost because he was totally outskilled by Monfils. Now, it's up to Djokovic to take Serbia into Saturday at 1-1, not 0-2 and facing a must-win doubles match. Michael Llodra and Arnaud Clement, France's doubles pair, are no pushovers, and neither is Gilles Simon, who will try to give France a commanding 2-0 lead.
—Ed McGrogan