Djokovic Did His Best, But Couldn’t Bring Victory to Serbia

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 18th November 2013

Djokovic Did His Best, But Couldn’t Bring Victory to Serbia

epa03954128 Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts during the match against Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic at the Davis Cup final match in Belgrade, Serbia, 17 November 2013. EPA/KOCA SULEJMANOVIC |

Novak Djokovic’s two singles wins were not enough to stop the Czech Davis Cup juggernaut in Belgrade, but the Serb world No. 2 goes into the brief tennis off-season convinced that he gave all that he could to the cause. Serbia failed in the bid for a second Davis trophy after Djokovic led them to their first three years ago, falling 3-2 to the Czechs, now repeat champions after beating Spain a year ago for the title.

Djokovic managed to tap into a well of strength and the inspiration to play once again for his nation only a few days after winning the World Tour Finals in London with a defeat of Rafael Nadal. The Serb will now have time to recuperate before beginning the next ATP season, where he hopes to regain the No. 1 ranking he lost only last month to the Spaniard.

He kept the his nation fighting at the Belgrade arena until the end as he claimed a 24th straight match with a 6-4, 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over Tomas Berdych in reverse singles, But Radek Stepanek clinched the tie for the visitors, beating Dusan Lajovic 6-3, 6-1, 6-1.

“There was a lot of tension and emotions, it so close and tight in the second set,” said Djokovic, “But when you play for your country, the pressure and expectations and emotions are sky high. It can get the better of you sometimes. I tried to give my best even if I knew I was not at 100-per-cent fitness. It was great to win this match in a full arena, this is the nicest feeling you can expect as a tennis player,” he said.

Topics: 10sballs.com, Atp, Belgrade, Czech Republic, Davis Cup, Dusan Lajovic, Novak Djokovic, Radek Stepanek, Rafael Nadal, Serbia, Tennis, Tennis News, Tomas Berdych, World Tour Finals