NOVAK DJOKOVIC MAKES DAVIS CUP RETURN TO THE DELIGHT OF FANS

Written by: Staff on 5th March 2015

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a point against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic during their semi final match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 February 2015. EPA/ALI HAIDER

epa04640481 Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates a point against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic during their semi final match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 27 February 2015. EPA/ALI HAIDER |

“The queue outside Kraljevo stadium to watch @DjokerNole practice…. Ridiculous!” photo by @LukeDonaldson1 via Twitter.

Five years after claiming its maiden Davis Cup title, Team Serbia is hoping to recreate that 2010 magic with a nearly identical squad led by World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.

With 2014 champions Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka sitting out this year for the Swiss team and Rafael Nadal’s Spanish contingent attempting to regain its footing in the World Group, Serbia’s experience and depth makes it an early favorite for Davis Cup success this season.

Further adding to the excitement as play kicks off on Friday is the team’s first-round matchup against neighboring Croatia. The two countries, which have shared a contentious rivalry after rising from the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, last met in the 2010 quarter-finals in Split. Serbia claimed a 4-1 win that year, en route to their first title.

This time around, play will take place on the indoor courts of Serbia’s Kraljevo Sports Centre. After leading the team to the Davis Cup final in 2013 where it lost to the Czech Republic, Djokovic is back in action to the delight of fans in his home country.

“We are very excited to be here, and the hospitality of the people here has been overwhelming,” Djokovic said. “Our hearts are filled with joy after seeing people from all over the region queue up for tickets to see us. It’s not a big venue, but we know that it will be jam-packed and able to generate a fantastic atmosphere.”

Djokovic will join his good friend Viktor Troicki as well as Nenad Zimonjic and Filip Krajinovic as they battle against a young Croatian team, featuring 18-year-old Borna Coric, Mate Delic, Franko Skugor and Marin Draganja. Croatian World No. 10 Marin Cilic was forced to withdraw due to a persistent shoulder injury.

Krajinovic is the only player who was not in Serbia’s 2010 championship lineup. That spot went to Janko Tipsarevic, who has been sidelined for over a year following heel surgery.

Djokovic will face World No. 158 Mate Delic, 21, in his singles opener, while Troicki, who clinched the 2010 title, takes on Dubai semi-finalist and World No. 61 Coric.

”We are favorites, but that does not mean we have already won the match,” Djokovic said. ”[Coric’s] wins against Nadal and Murray illustrate his capabilities.”

( Courtesy of the ATP and Original Link: http://www.atpworldtour.com/News/Tennis/2015/03/9/Davis-Cup-Thursday-Djokovic-Serbia.aspx )

Topics: Davis Cup, Novak Djokovic, Serbia, Tennis, Tennis Fans

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10sBalls_com says:

March 5, 2015 at 4:09 pm

-@DjokerNole MAKES @DavisCup RETURN TO THE DELIGHT OF FANS http://t.co/btpy4mvF5T #DavisCupserbia #daviscuptennis #IdemoSrbija #idemo