Djokovic Is Still Deep In The Tennis Mix

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 13th November 2013

Djokovic Is Still Deep In The Tennis Mix

epa03946002 Serbia's Novak Djokovic lifts the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals tennis championship trophy after beating Spain's Rafael Nadal in the final of the men's singles of the Barclays ATP World Tour tennis tournament at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, 11 November 2013. EPA/ANDY RAIN |

It’s nonstop for Novak Djokovic, who is keen to lead Serbia into the weekend Davis Cup final at home against the holder Czech Republic. The ATP No. 2 has one final push left in 2013 as his country bids to repeat its historic first Davis Cup title three years ago.

“The season has been long, but I cannot complain because this is something I was very aware about when I was preparing myself for the end of the season,” said Djokovic, as the Serbs and Czech prepared to face off for the third time in four years.

“It’s going to be very physically and mentally demanding for me to be able to perform my best this weekend. But it’s one of those unique opportunities that you are looking forward to. God knows if we are going to have another chance to win the Davis Cup final at home.”

Serbia will be without Viktor Troicki as he serves a ban for failing to take an anti-doping blood test in good time last spring. The team will field Djokovic, the recently injured Tipsarevic and along with Ilija Bozoljac and doubles ace Nenad Zimonjic.

No. 7 Tomas Berdych heads the visiting squad after playing the year-end event in London but going out in the group stage. Czech veteran Radek Stepanek, 34, is particularly excited about his team’s chance to back up their 2012 title performance.

“Those feelings which I had from Davis Cup, they never get old. It is something special,” he said. “It is something what you cannot get on a regular tournament, and it’s a pleasure to play, an honor, in front of our fans.

“They are following us, no matter if we play Argentina, Chile, no matter where we play they are there. We know how much they sacrifice to get there, how much it cost them financially, but they are there with us. They are always an unofficial member of our team.”

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp, Czech Republic, Davis Cup, Ilija Bozoljac, Nenad Zimonjic, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Rafael Nadal, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych, Viktor Troicki, World Tour Finals