Serbia, Czech close in on tennis final

(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) Serbia and the Czech Republic moved closer to meeting in the World Team Cup final on Thursday.

Serbia's Viktor Troicki saved three set points in the first set and four break points in the second to beat Florin Mayer 7-6 (6), 6-3 for a 1-0 lead over defending champion Germany in the Blue Group.

Tomas Berdych gave the Czechs a 1-0 lead over Argentina by beating Carlos Berlocq 6-1, 6-7 (2), 6-3.

The United States beat Japan 2-1 for its first win. Ryan Harrison beat Tatsumi Ito 6-2, 7-6 (5) before Go Soeda defeated Andy Roddick 7-5, 7-6 (4) to level the score.

James Blake and Ryan Harrison won the decisive doubles against Ito and Bumpei Sato 4-6, 6-0, 10-4.

Updated May 24, 2012