BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentina’s injured and emotional Juan Martin del Potro beat Radek Stepanek in the opening match, and the Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych evened the Davis Cup semifinal by topping Juan Monaco in the second match Friday.
Del Potro, told by doctors not to play because of an inflamed left wrist, beat Stepanek 6-4, 6-4, 6-2, and then broke down crying as he addressed cheering fans at the outdoor clay-court venue. Stepanek suggested afterward that Del Potro might have exaggerated the injury in a bit of gamesmanship.
Berdych later rallied to edge Monaco 6-1, 4-6, 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, leveling the contest before the doubles Saturday and reverse singles Sunday.
