PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- The Czech Republic took a commanding 2-0 lead over Argentina in the Davis Cup semifinals Friday after Radek Stepanek and Tomas Berdych won the opening singles matches to put the defending champion one win away from a third final in five years. Stepanek overcame a sluggish start to put the Czechs up 1-0 by sweeping aside Juan Monaco 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-2 before the fifth-ranked Berdych survived a second set wobble to stretch the margin with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 victory over hard-hitting Leonardo Mayer. With their formidable 12-1 record in Davis Cup doubles, Berdych and Stepanek have a chance to wrap up the series Saturday against Carlos Berlocq and Horacio Zeballos. "We are 2-0 up, thats what we wanted. Now, the most important thing is to get ready for the doubles," Berdych said. It was a hard-fought victory for Berdych, who looked relieved after he edged his 93rd-ranked opponent in more than three hours. "Im grateful for the result. The first two sets were not ideal from me," he said. He had to save a break point before converting his second match point when Mayer hit a forehand wide. "He had a great start, his game was perfect and he made no mistakes. He was aggressive and took a risk," Berdych said. Berdych had a total of 40 winners, only four more than Mayer, and made 39 unforced errors to Mayers 41. "I tried to attack as much as I could. He was better," Mayer said. In the first set, Berdych sent a forehand long to lose his serve in the seventh game as Mayer before the Czech came back and won the next three games. Mayer took a 4-2 lead in the second set before wasting a break point that would have had him serving for the set with a 5-2 lead. Struggling with his major weapon, Berdych put only 47 per cent of his first serves into play in the second set and was broken again in the ninth game before Mayer served the set out at love. With his serve improved, Berdych took a 3-0 lead in the third set. In his first cup singles this year and just days after his second Grand Slam doubles title at the U.S. Open on Sunday, Stepanek played in his typical attacking style, serving 13 aces and hitting 38 winners on a fast indoor hard court at O2 Arena. "I was trying to be active," Stepanek said. "It was an important match for me. I faced a great opponent, but I wanted to use to my favour the surface and the fans." Stepanek converted his first match point to improve to 5-2 against Monaco. Stepanek also beat Monaco with the same set figures to clinch the 2009 Davis Cup quarterfinal for the Czechs, also at home on a fast court in Ostrava. "Its just coincidence," he said. "But I think I was the better player in those two matches." Seeking its first title, Argentina is without its star player Juan Martin del Potro who skipped the Davis Cup this season. Stepanek is a key player on the Czech team but missed the first-round victory at Switzerland because of a neck operation and was able to play only the doubles in the 3-1 quarterfinal win at Kazakhstan. He and Berdych played all five matches in last years final in Prague and beat Spain 3-2. Stepanek could not find his rhythm at the beginning of the first set and was frustrated at the net by Monacos precise passing shots. The Argentine took advantage of his first break point to go 3-1 up but allowed Stepanek to get back into the set with a double-fault on break point in the following game. "He played so much better than me. I had my chances in the first set but couldnt make it. He impressed me," Monaco said. Stepanek wasted a chance to serve out the first set after Monaco sent an overhead long to go 6-5 down but dominated the following tiebreaker with his volley play. The Czech improved his game in the second, jumping 3-0 up. Monaco still fought back before double-faulting to present Stepanek a chance to serve out the set at 5-3. "I tried to serve little bit faster," Monaco said. The winner of the best-of-five series faces Serbia or Canada in the final in November. Kyrie Irving Shoes Deals . This week, topics cover the World Series champion Red Sox, John Farrell and what to look forward to this off-season. Cheap Kyrie Irving Shoes . If one fighter gases, he usually gets beat up pretty bad from that point on. https://www.cheapshoeskyrieirving.com/.ca. Hi Kerry, Love reading your column and loved watching your analysis on the TSN broadcasts!And were now in Round 2! Bruins! Canadiens! We know all about the great games of the past from the players, the broadcasters and the writers. Kyrie Irving Shoes From China .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. Kyrie Irving Shoes Free Shipping . The 26-year-old Regina native teamed up with Denny Morrison and Mathieu Giroux to win gold in 2010. Makowsky also was 13th in the 5,000 metres and 19th in the 1,500m in Vancouver. He also represented Canada at the 2014 Games in Sochi, helping the pursuit team finish fourth and finishing 28th in the 1,500.TOBLACH, Italy - Marit Bjoergen of Norway picked up her second World Cup win of the weekend as she triumphed in the womens freestyle sprint in Toblach on Sunday, while compatriot Ola Vigen Hattestad was victorious in the mens event. In the last race before the Sochi Olympics, Bjoergen followed up her win in the 10-kilometre classical race on Saturday by beating World Cup sprint leader Denise Herrmann of Germany by 0.43 seconds for her fifth victory of the season. Fellow Norwegian Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg was third, 1.46 seconds behind. "I think my legs were a little bit tired after yesterday," Bjoergen said. "I didnt feel very fast in the qualification. But each heat I felt a little biit better and was able to advance each time.dddddddddddd I was able to get myself into good position off the downhill in the final to be able to get the win today." Kikkan Randall of the United States was fifth. Hattestad finished 0.69 seconds ahead of teammate Eirik Brandsdal. Josef Wenzl of Germany was third, 0.94 seconds behind. There was no change in the overall standings, with leader Martin Johnsrud Sundby absent. "This was a really great victory for me today," Hattestad said. "I knew I had strong legs and excellent skis so I am happy to win. I was told after the Norwegian championships that I wasnt ready for Sochi but I think today I showed that I am." ' ' '