Djokovic under pressure to avoid ‘failure’ as Serbia get lucky with Murray injur
Serbia’s Davis Cup advisor has admitted that it could be seen as a “failure” if they can’t lift the trophy with Novak Djokovic on the team. The world No 1 flew straight to Malaga for the World Cup of men’s tennis after lifting a record-extending seventh ATP Finals title over the weekend. Serbia take on Britain in Thursday’s quarter-final and retired pro Janko Tipsarevic believes that they got lucky when Andy Murray and Dan Evans were forced to pull out of team GB through injury.
Djokovic will be back in action on Thursday as Serbia face Britain in the quarter-final of the Davis Cup. The 36-year-old has made it clear that winning the trophy for his country is his main priority for the end of the season and the team’s advisor believes that there could be some pressure having a player like Djokovic on the team.
Tipsarevic will be assisting team captain Viktor Troicki this week. When Serbia last won the tournament back in 2010, both men were part of the team alongside Djokovic. Comparing their hopes 13 years ago to their chances this time around, Tipsarevic knew that it could be seen as a “failure” if they couldn’t lift the trophy again with the 24-time Grand Slam champion back in the squad.
“There is no excessive difference [between then and now],” the former world No 8 told Sportal. “I can’t remember exactly, but neither Viktor nor I were top 10 players, we were 20th or 30th on the list. Of course, Novak was the team leader then, and of course he is now.”
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With a new crop of players like Miomir Kecmanovic and Laslo Djere joining Djokovic this time around, Tipsarevic is confident that they can conquer. He continued: “It’s unbelievable, but even now, so many years later, he’s the first again. The boys are physically ready, mentally they know what is expected of them.
“We are going to win, we are going to conquer. And the way Novak plays, every other outcome except winning the trophy was not catastrophic, but failure. The only thing that can be seen is that everyone is under the pressure of the end of the season, we are deep into November.”
Serbia’s first task will be to take on Britain in the quarter-final on Thursday. Team GB took a hit when Dan Evans withdrew last month after picking up a calf injury in Vienna and ending his season. Over the weekend, Andy Murray also had to pull out with a shoulder issue. The team still boasts British No 1 Cameron Norrie as well as top 10 doubles stars Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski, plus Jack Draper and Liam Broady.
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Assessing their first tie, Tipsarevic thought that Serbia got lucky with two of Britain’s strongest players getting injured. “It was talked about for a long time who will play for them. Evans cancelled due to an injury, Andy Murray was also injured,” he said.
“Nevertheless, a very difficult opponent, with a good team and a strong doubles, and luck looked at us a little because of the cancellation of Evans and Murray. But, whoever they send to the field, it will be a strong opponent.”
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