Djokovic fired up for Davis Cup glory

Novak Djokovic
Winning
the 2010 Davis Cup for Serbia proved the launch pad for Novak Djokovic
to reach the top of the men’s game and the 26-year-old hopes another
epic run will have a similar effect.
Looking upbeat and raring to go just a
few days after a crushing US Open defeat by Rafael Nadal, Djokovic was
named to play singles on the opening day of the semi-final against
Canada in the cavernous Belgrade Arena.
Any fatigue from his New York battles
and the long-haul flight home will be soothed by the prospect of playing
in front of the partisan home crowd, the world number one said.
“I am tired and jet-lagged but also as
inspired and motivated as ever to play for my country,” Djokovic told a
news conference after Thursday’s draw which pitted him against Vasek
Pospisil in Friday’s opening singles rubber.
“It’s not the first time I’ve had only
two days to recuperate for a Davis Cup tie after the US Open and the
fact that we will be playing at home for the first time in two years
will galvanise us to perform.
“The 2010 triumph was a stepping stone
for all of us in terms of our individual careers and that’s why we are
really looking forward to it.”
Following their epic 3-2 win over France
in the 2010 final, which produced a soccer-like atmosphere in a
jam-packed arena, Serbia suffered their first loss at the venue in the
2011 semis.
An ailing Djokovic, who was nursing a
ribcage injury, retired against Juan Martin del Potro in the reverse
singles, handing Argentina an unassailable 3-1 lead as he collapsed to
the ground in anguish.
It was an anti-climax to his memorable
US Open final win against Nadal that season, the most successful in the
Serb’s career as he also claimed the Australian Open and Wimbledon to go
with a myriad of Masters Series titles.
“I am fit this time and I don’t think
adapting to red clay will be a problem because I’ve done it before,” he
said of the specially-prepared clay surface.
“Canada are a very strong team but our home fans can help us prevail in what promises to be a delicately balanced tie.”
Janko Tipsarevic has returned to the
Serbian squad after a 16-month absence and faces big-serving Milos
Raonic in Friday’s second singles rubber.
Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac play
Belgrade-born Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil in Saturday’s doubles,
while Djokovic locks horns with world No. 11 Raonic and Tipsarevic
clashes with Pospisil in Sunday’s reverse singles.
Nestor, Zimonjic’s former doubles
partner on the ATP Tour, said he expected no empathy from a raucous
Belgrade crowd although he called his birthplace “a home away from
home.”
“Will they take it easy on me? Maybe
they will early on but if Serbia find themselves on the receiving end
they will do what they have to in order to help the home team win,” he
said.
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