Novak Djokovic is on a record-extending roll in the 2023 season, winning tournaments left and right. His recent success at the Nitto ATP Finals cemented his status as year-end world No. 1 for a record eighth time and 400 weeks in total, providing him the required motivation ahead of the Davis Cup knockouts.
The Serb famously secured Serbia’s progress to the quarterfinals in the nation-vs-nation tournament in September against Spain and is now focusing on winning the event despite criticising its one-nation host format.
Djokovic aims for Davis Cup triumph with Serbia
Novak Djokovic didn’t play a part in Serbia’s failed quest to win a Davis Cup title in 2022, but his presence this year has galvanised the contingent to push for a second title. His partnership with Laslo Djere and Miomir Kecmanovic will prove vital when they face Great Britain on November 23 in Malaga.
Novak had little time to prepare for the tournament after travelling from Italy to Spain to take part in the tournament, but his motivation to succeed remained as intense as ever.
“It’s the last week of the season so one final push is necessary from each one of us,” he said.
“I’m excited because I have been playing some really good tennis, particularly in the last four months of the season. I started training right away, because obviously there is not much time to really leave the racket aside,” he added.
Novak Djokovic has long been a fan favourite in his home country and is looked upon as a legend. It is thus disappointing for the Serb that he couldn’t play at home and voiced his criticism towards the Davis Cup format.
Novak Djokovic advocates for Davis Cup transformation
The Davis Cup has been played in a few set locations, with the group stage this year played in Croatia and the knockout stage in Spain.
This one-host format was criticised by Novak Djokovic who felt it diluted the tournament’s value and proposed a new format to reinvigorate the flagging tournament’s status as an elite event.
“I know there has been a lot of discussions on that subject,” Djokovic told reporters.
“I actually personally feel that the best format will be somewhere in between the old one and the new one. The fact that we, as a team, have not played in Serbia many years is not great, because we don’t give an opportunity to people in Serbia to watch us play, especially young people, young tennis players,” Djokovic added.
Novak Djokovic also added that sporting federations will benefit from the home-tie format and said the home-and-away format was what the Davis Cup was famous for.
“It has to travel. This is a competition that is played globally. I feel like the Davis Cup Finals, at least if you’re going to keep it at Final 4, Final 8, should travel every year. It shouldn’t stay in one place more than a year,” he concluded.
What are your opinions on Novak Djokovic’s criticism of the Davis Cup format and will he help his nation succeed at the event? Let us know in the comments section below.
