Serbia motivated via 2019 Davis Cup heartbreak: Novak Djokovic

International primary Novak Djokovic says Serbia will use the sour reminiscence in their Davis Cup Finals defeat in 2019 as motivation to raise the trophy for a 2d time this yr.

On the inaugural Davis Cup Finals in Madrid two years in the past, Serbia have been knocked out within the quarter-finals after Viktor Troicki and Djokovic misplaced a deciding doubles rubber to Russia.

They in truth had 3 event issues and at the remaining one Troicki poked a regimen volley out as he succumbed to nerves and within the post-match information convention he broke down.

Serbia are drawn in Crew F with Austria and Germany – either one of whom are lacking their most sensible avid gamers – and might be fancied to achieve the knockout segment.

“It’s nice to be again with the Davis Cup crew,” Djokovic advised a information convention forward of Friday’s opening round-robin tie in opposition to Austria in Innsbruck, one among 3 host venues for the 18-nation Finals being staged over 11 days.

“The remaining reminiscence used to be a tragic one, we have been all very emotional, however however we have been motivated to come back again in combination and provides it any other pass so right here we’re as soon as once more in combination once more.

“We’re all buddies and the chemistry within the crew is superb. That’s an very important component for good fortune.”

Troicki, who gained the purpose to protected a Djokovic-inspired Serbia victory over France within the 2010 ultimate in Belgrade, is now the captain whilst Djokovic’s crew pals are Filip Krajinovic, Dusan Lajovic, Laslo Djere and Miomir Kecmanovic.

In customary cases they’d have gained vocal backing from Austria’s huge Serb inhabitants however the OlympiaHalle might be silent after Austria declared a countrywide lockdown to stem emerging COVID-19 infections.

It manner all of the ties in Crew F and Crew C might be performed with none lovers provide – a sour blow to the development which used to be cancelled remaining yr as a result of the pandemic.

Whilst unhappy that the power of the lovers might be lacking, Djokovic helps the multi-city staging of the Davis Cup Finals, with primary hosts Madrid additionally being joined via Turin.

In 2019 the entire tournament used to be staged in Madrid after the Global Tennis Federation’s (ITF) debatable revamp of the crew pageant which had historically concerned house and away ties performed throughout a number of rounds during the yr.

“The Davis Cup must be skilled via extra other people. So I’m in favour of this yr’s structure and that there are extra international locations that may host crew ties,” Djokovic stated.

“I didn’t assume the structure labored rather well two years in the past.”

Britain’s captain Leon Smith, whose facet will play their Crew C ties in Innsbruck, stated he sought after extra open discussion with the ITF and companions Kosmos Tennis, concerning the structure of the Davis Cup going ahead.

“I’m listening to that some issues may well be going down subsequent yr, however most effective listening to it 2d hand,” he stated. “It might be excellent to speak about it earlier than choices are made.”