Belgrade – Serbia forgot their many woes Sunday night and are celebrating their latest sports heroes, the tennis team who won the Davis Cup.
“They gave us one of magical moments when everything stops and when nothing else matters, at least during those few moments,” a columnist wrote in Monday's edition of the Blic daily.
Serbia defeated nine-time champions France 3-2 in the packed, loud Belgrade Arena in front of 17,000 fans, turning the tie after trailing 2-1 into the final day.
“Serbia passes through Arc d'Triomphe”, “Serbia world champions” and “They are our heroes” were some of the front page headlines of Belgrade newspapers Monday.
The small nation of 7.5 million, groaning under the hardship of transistion, emerged on the tennis map in recent years owing to star players Novak Djokovic, Ana Ivanovic and Jelena Jankovic.
World No.3 Djokovic led the Davis Cup team as he won both of his singles rubbers against Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils.
But it was second-tier players like Sunday night hero Viktor Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic who were required to step up for the triumph.
Troicki rebounded from a heartbreak five-set defeat with partner Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles to clinch the decisive fifth rubber over the favoured Michael Llodra in straight sets. Tipsarevic was the joker in the semifinals against the Czech Republic.
Many reports highlight that Djokovic is one of the world's top players who always plays for his country and supports his teammates.
“Fraternal relations in the team are the pillar of the historic victory,” the daily Politika said. Troicki's statement, “we're like brothers and that's our strength” was also widely quoted.
Reports also praised the atmosphere the 17,000 fans – including around 2,000 French – created in the arena during the three-day tennis weekend.
In the end, the Frenchmen were overwhelmed, the Press tabloid said.
“The French cockerels were brutally cooked in the cauldron of the Belgrade Arena,” Press said.
With their heads shaved on court on Sunday night, in line with a promise they made, the Serbian team was set to receive the traditional heroes welcome in central Belgrade on Monday night.
Then the thoughts will turn to the next season which starts with a tie against India March 4-6, 2011.
“Next year in the finals, it will not be a haircut,” Tipsarevic said. “Next year we'll pierce something, or maybe a tattoo.”
At that, he is the only Serbian Davis Cup member with visible tattoos. – Sapa-dpa