Novak Djokovic and Viktor Troicki sealed Serbia's place in sporting history as they beat France 3-2 in the Davis Cup final.
After pulsating five set doubles win on Saturday, all the momentum was with the French going into the final day with Serbia needing to win both singles matches.
Djokovic ensured the tie went down to the wire with a brilliant performance to defeat Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in front of a packed Belgrade Arena. Serving as well as he has done all year and riding on the adulation of his home fans, Djokovic blazed through the first two sets before surviving a mini third set revival from Monfils to close things out in straight sets.
The final rubber saw both captains make changes with Viktor Troicki replacing the experienced Janko Tipsarevic. It proved to be an inspired choice. Troicki has been in the form of his life this autumn and he outplayed Michael Llodra 6-2, 6-2, 6-3. With so much at stake, everyone expected it to be a tense affair with Llodra's experience possibly giving him the edge. However they were proved wrong. It is doubtful whether Troicki has ever returned as well in his life, smashing passing shot after passing shot past the onrushing Frenchman.
It is an incredible achievement for Serbia who only joined the Davis Cup in 1995. However with a world class star in Djokovic competing for them on a regular basis, one of the world's finest doubles specialists in Nenad Zimonjic plus Troicki and Tipsarevic who can challenge the best in the world on their day, they are very worthy winners and look set to remain among the world's strongest teams for some time to come.
