World primary Novak Djokovic will search to finish top-of-the-line season’s of his unimaginable profession by main Serbia to the Davis Cup title for a second time in Malaga.
Serbia are one of many eight surviving nations from September’s group section and can face Britain on Thursday.
Action begins on Tuesday when reigning champions Canada tackle Finland, whereas on Wednesday the Czech Republic are up towards Australia. Italy additionally face the Netherlands on Thursday.
Djokovic reached all 4 Grand Slam finals this yr, successful three of them to maneuver previous Rafa Nadal to a document 24 main titles. On Sunday he beat Italy’s Jannik Sinner to win a record seventh ATP Finals title.
But Djokovic just isn’t completed but and the 36-year-old would love nothing greater than main Serbia to the lads’s crew prize for the primary time since 2010 when he was instrumental in a memorable victory towards France in Belgrade.
“The season is not finished yet. I really would like to win the Davis Cup with Serbia. That’s a goal. It’s an important week for us, for our nation. We’ll do our best.”
Serbia’s job has been made somewhat simpler with accidents ruling out Dan Evans and Andy Murray from Britain’s line-up, though they nonetheless have world quantity 18 Cameron Norrie and teenager Jack Draper within the squad in addition to a robust doubles line-up together with world quantity three Neal Skupski.
Canada beat Australia in final yr’s closing and Felix Auger-Aliassime desires to show that feat was no fluke.
“Whenever we come together as a team we always have belief that we can win,” Auger-Aliassime instructed the ITF’s web site.
“We are focussed but also more relaxed knowing we won the trophy last year.”
Canada are with out the injured Denis Shapovalov and could have former Wimbledon runner-up Milos Raonic of their ranks towards a Finnish squad which has already achieved the nation’s greatest end result within the competitors.
Oddly, a big Finnish inhabitants dwell near Malaga so they won’t be missing assist, in line with their primary participant Emil Ruusuvuori. “I heard there’s 6,000 coming,” he stated.
Traditional Davis Cup powerhouse Australia haven’t received the Davis Cup for 20 years however beneath captain Lleyton Hewitt they imagine they will go one step additional than final yr.
“All the guys in our team lift when they play for their country,” Hewitt stated. “They play with a lot of passion and pride.”
Alex De Minaur is Australia’s prime singles participant and arrives in Spain assured after am spectacular yr which he ended simply exterior the world’s prime 10. “I’m kind of a local here now,” De Minaur, who trains in Alicante and Marbella stated. “It’s basically a home tournament for me.”
The Davis Cup will even be an opportunity for Sinner to shake off any lingering disappointment at dropping to Djokovic within the ATP Finals on Sunday. World quantity 4 Sinner leads a strong-looking Italy facet who will likely be favourites to beat the Dutch.