Nole about the Davis Cup draw: We live for those three days!
Serbian tennis team has a difficult task in the first round of the Davis Cup World Group , which will take place on 5-7 March 2010, in the capital of Serbia, Belgrade.
Our players’ first opponent will be the team of USA, the country that has won the greatest number of trophies since the founding of the competition (32 titles).
For his official website, Novak gave his impressions of everything that happened in the last seven days.
"I would first like to congratulate our players on making successful results during the previous weekend. I want to thank my colleagues from the team and all the media in Serbia for understanding my absence from the team in the tie against Uzbekistan."
Novak has already officially confirmed his participation in the following tennis spectacle in Belgrade Arena.
"I will surely play for Serbia against our next opponent in the Davis Cup World Group, the team of USA, and I will try to give my contribution in our attempt to win the tie. Although we got a very difficult opponent who won the trophy in this prestigious competition many times, I am convinced that we have the quality to beat them. There are six more months until this duel, but I must already emphasise to all our tennis fans, that these are the matches of great importance and the support of our home crowd would help us achieve the goal. We live for those three days and expect a great spectacle in Belgrade Arena", concluded Nole.
Novak is currently in Monte Carlo, practicing for the upcoming China Open tournament. He’s heading to Beijing on Wednesday.
Djokovic set to face Americans
Novak Djokovic is set to lead Serbia’s challenge in the 2010 Davis Cup by BNP Paribas. He missed his nation’s recent World Group Play-off victory over Uzbekistan but has indicated that he plans to be in the team that faces USA at home in next year’s first round.
Djokovic made his Davis Cup debut in 2004 and has since compiled an overall winning record of 14-6. His last appearance for Serbia came in its first round defeat against Spain in March.
In 2009, the world No. 4 has won two titles, in Belgrade and Dubai, and has already booked his place in the end-of-year Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at London’s O2 Arena. Alongside Djokovic, Serbia will also hope to call upon the services of Viktor Troicki, Janko Tipsarevic and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic.
Slobodan Zivojinovic, President of the Serbia Tennis Federation, is confident that his nation will have its strongest squad available against USA. “I’ve spoken with Novak and the rest of the players after the draw. All of the players have said they are eagerly anticipating March’s clash with the Americans,” said Zivojinovic, speaking with Blic newspaper.
If Serbia does have its strongest squad available, Bogdan Obradovic, the team captain, will be hopeful of an upset against the Americans, a nation Serbia has never met before in its short Davis Cup history. Although the deadline to officially announce the venue is not until later in the year, it is expected that Serbia will elect to play the tie on a clay court.
“Speaking with the players and the backroom staff, we’ve reached an agreement that clay would be the best possible playing surface for us to pick, as it least suits the visitors. Croatia picked to play on clay in Porec over the summer and got away with a win [against USA]. That’s where I see our chance,” said Zivojinovic.
The American team, captained by Patrick McEnroe, will hope to see the return of Andy Roddick alongside James Blake and one of the world’s top doubles pairings, Bob and Mike Bryan. However, should injury or form intervene, USA have a number of players waiting for an opportunity. Sam Querrey, currently the next player in line according to the rankings, is one of nine Americans inside the world’s top 100.
“We haven’t had a chance to host such a formidable team for a while. The women’s team take on Russia in the Fed Cup in February, after which there is the Davis Cup tie against the USA. We expect our fans will enjoy great tennis and it will undoubtedly be spectacular,” added Zivojinovic.
