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• France doubles comeback puts pressure on Djokovic

  12/4/10 8:07 PM | Ricky Dimon
  France stages an improbable comeback in the doubles rubber on Saturday in Belgrade. Serbia's Novak Djokovic now faces a must-win situation against Gael Monfils to extend the Davis Cup final.
  
  Serbia needs a win from Novak Djokovic when its top player battles Gael Monfils in the fourth rubber of the Davis Cup final on Sunday afternoon at the Belgrade Arena.
  
  It looked like Djokovic would be in position to play the role of title-clinching hero, but the host Serbs failed to hang onto a two-set lead in doubles action on Saturday. France's Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra stormed back to stun Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic 3-6, 6-7(3), 6-4, 7-5, 6-4.
  
  Djokovic and Monfils have met on five previous occasions at the ATP level and Djokovic is a perfect 5-0. He most recently prevailed over Monfils 7-6(2), 6-1, 6-2 in the quarterfinals of this summer's U.S. Open. Monfils has defeated his favored opponent once before, but that came at the Futures level way back in 2004.
  
  Djokovic leads the hard-court head-to-head series 4-0, including 1-0 indoors. Their lone indoor encounter came in last year's Paris Masters final, in which Djokovic triumphed 6-2, 5-7, 7-6(3).
  
  While past history favors Djokovic, this could be an absolute blockbuster if Friday's proceedings are any indication. Both players were in outstanding form en route to scoring impressive straight-set victories. Monfils took care of Janko Tipsarevic 6-1, 7-6(4), 6-0 before Djokovic evened the tie with a 6-3, 6-1, 7-5 win over Gilles Simon.
  
  Djokovic is now 60-18 for his 2010 campaign. Playing his best tennis at the moment, the world No. 3 is 16-5 since the U.S. Open. Monfils is also showing his best stuff right now as one of the hottest players on tour at the end of the regular season. The 12th-ranked Frenchman, who reached the Paris final for a second straight time, is 46-19 on the year.
  
  While the pressure will be immense, not as much will be on Monfils now that his team is in the lead and a fifth rubber will take place if he loses. That should help the underdog make it competitive, but look for Djokovic to prolong the tie after no more than four sets.
  
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