Serbia celebrated their first Davis Cup title on Sunday as Viktor Troicki thrashed France's Michael Llodra to secure a memorable 3-2 victory inside a rocking Belgrade Arena. Chants of "Viktor" and "Serbia" reverberated around the imposing 17,000-capacity venue as Troicki, a late swap for the deciding rubber, won 6-2 6-2 6-3 against a powerless opponent who cracked under the pressure.
Serbia begun the day 2-1 in arrears against the nine-times champions after losing a cliff-hanger doubles rubber on Saturday, but first Novak Djokovic pummelled Gael Monfils to level the tie before Troicki finished the job.
After claiming the first set with ease he went 2-0 down in the second but reeled off eight consecutive games to a cacophony of beating drums and chanting.
Llodra raised the tension levels when he broke serve to close to 3-4 in the third set but Troicki, with Djokovic and the rest of his team willing him on at courtside, held his nerve.
A weak Llodra volley brought up two match points and the party could start in earnest when Troicki fired a backhand winner past the despairing Frenchman.