BARELY subdued by Roger Federer in a torrid US Open final, Novak Djokovic yesterday turned his attention to Australia's Davis Cup team.
Frustrated at squandering a string of opportunities at Flushing Meadows, the Serb plans to regroup immediately ahead of next week's Cup playoff in Belgrade.
"After 15, 20 years, we (Serbia) get a chance to get to the world group," world No. 3 Djokovic said.
"We are playing home against Australia, which we all know how good Australia is in the Davis Cup, how good is their history.
"Of course, Lleyton (Hewitt) is coming, which is going to make our victory or way of thinking more difficult.
"I'm really happy that tennis fans back in our country will have an opportunity to see me and rest of the guys, and Hewitt playing."
Hewitt, Chris Guccione, Peter Luczak, Paul Hanley Alun Jones and junior Greg Jones will fly to Belgrade today for the sell-out tie on indoor clay.
Should Australia lose, it will drop out of the world group for only the second time.
Hewitt will share singles duties with Guccione and claycourt specialist, Luczak.
He will almost certainly team with Hanley in doubles.
Alun Jones's excellent US Open effort against Spain's Rafael Nadal has seen him earn a belated call-up.
French Open junior finalist Jones, 17, is viewed as a future Cup contributor and will be used as a practice partner.
Australian captain John Fitzgerald yesterday said the 28-time champion will enter the tie as the underdog.
"We accept that they (Serbia) start favourites, but some of the greatest performances in Australian Davis Cup have come when have had our backs to the wall," Fitzgerald said.
"For Alun and Greg, it is recognition of their strong performances on the circuit.
"Alun put up a strong performance against Nadal at the US Open and Greg has had a stellar year on the junior tour.
"Lleyton has proven his fighting qualities time and time again.
"As to who plays singles and doubles, we will evaluate all of that in the next week or so."
Serbian captain Dejan Petrovic, a former South Australian, will monitor Janko Tipsarevic's injured ribs.
Djokovic said Tipsarevic continued to battle the problem with his ribs.
1 comment:
Well written article.
Post a Comment