Djokovic Vows To Be Ready For Davis Cup

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 13th September 2013

Djokovic Vows To Be Ready For Davis Cup

epa03860252 Novak Djokovic of Serbia after losing to Rafael Nadal of Spain in the men's final on the fifteenth day of the 2013 US Open Tennis Championship at the USTA National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 09 September 2013. The US Open runs through Monday 09 September, a 15-day schedule for the first time. EPA/JUSTIN LANE |

US Open finalist Novak Djokovic promises to shake off his jet-lag when he makes his Davis Cup start 48 hours after arriving from New York, where his personal charity hosted a star-packed gala a day after his losing match against Rafael Nadal. The world No. 1 would not miss his country’s semi-final date with newcomer Canada under any circumstances and says that even if he’s tired he will be ready for his opening singles challenge against Vasek Pospisil.

“I’m tired but I’m fit now. We haven’t played at home in the Davis Cup for two years, so I’m as motivated and inspired as ever to play for my country.” Djokovic will share opening day singles duties with Janko Tipsarevic, back on the squad 16 months after his last appearance and taking on top Canadian Milos Raonic. Raonic, born in Montenegro and a Serbian speaker, owns that series 3-0.

Djokovic knows that 18,000 fans in the Belgrade arena will be willing the locals onto victory in what will certainly be a typically boisterous atmosphere on clay between two nations that have never played.

Raonic is one Canadian who will hear what’s going on the crowd during the heat of battle. But he is vowing to shut it all out and concentrate on his game. “It’s about staying within yourself and staying in your bubble. Whether I hear something, if it’s in English or in Serbian, most of the time I’m not processing it or I’m not responsive to it because I’m focused on the situation at hand.”

Topics: Best Sports, Davis Cup, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Tennis, US Open