Novak Djokovic - Serbia Into The Semi Final

No need for Novak to play today as Janko made sure of Serbia's place in the Semi Final in the 4th Rubber in Sweden.

Novak Djokovic - What Is He Doing

Crazy boy :-)

Novak Djokovic - Davis Cup Photos

Novak Djokovic OUT Of Friday DC Match

The Wimbledon champion will be replaced by Janko Tipsarevic, who will face Ervin Eleskovic. Sweden's Michael Ryderstedt will play Viktor Troicki in the opening match on Friday.

It was unclear whether Djokovic would be back for the reverse singles on Sunday.

Courtesy: USAToday

Novak Djokovic To Play Davis Cup Against Sweden

Novak Djokovic says he will play will for Serbia in its upcoming Davis Cup quarterfinal in Halmstad, Sweden. Top Swede Robin Soderling has decided not to play, which will make defending champion Serbia a heavy favorite. Djokovic did not play in Serbia’s win over India in the first round. 

"I am on the team," Djokovic said. "But for Soderling, I've heard, yes, that he has pulled out. I mean, regardless if he's playing or not, we will come as the strongest team, the team that has won the Davis Cup title last year, because we are aware that we are going away from home. I wouldn't be surprised if Robin still plays on that match. He's not in the tournament [Wimbledon]. He has still chance to be in the team. But we are not looking at their squad. We are just trying to be the best squad we can."

Juan Martin del Potro will also return to Davis Cup when Argentina faces Kazakhstan in a World Group quarterfinal in Buenos Aires. Roger Federer will be part of the Swiss team that plays Portugal next month in Berne, in Europe/Africa Group I play. Federer has not played Davis Cup since 2009. Rafael Nadal has opted out of Spain’s quarterfinal tie against the United States in Austin, Texas.

Courtesy: Tennis.com

Davis Cup Open Thread

Reuters

Jim Courier, John Isner, Andy Roddick, Bob and Mike Bryan of the U.S Davis Cup team pose after beating Chile's team during their Davis Cup tennis match in Santiago March 6, 2011.

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World Group First Round

SERBIA defeats INDIA 4-1
Venue: Spens Sports Center, Novi Sad, SRB (hard – indoors)


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Viktor Troicki of Serbia reacts after beating Somdev Devvarman of India during their Davis Cup World Group first round tennis match on March 6, 2011, in Novi Sad.

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Viktor Troicki (SRB) d. Rohan Bopanna (IND) 63 63 57 36 63
Somdev Devvarman (IND) d. Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) 75 75 76(3)
Ilija Bozoljac/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB) d. Rohan Bopanna/Somdev Devvarman (IND) 46 63 64 76(10)
Viktor Troicki (SRB) d. Somdev Devvarman (IND) 64 62 75
Janko Tipsarevic (SRB) d. Leander Paes (IND) 60 61

SWEDEN defeats RUSSIA 3-2
Venue: Borashallen, Boras, SWE (hard – indoors)

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Sweden's Robert Lindstedt reacts during his Davis Cup first round doubles match with Simon Aspelin (R) against Russia's Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov at the Borashallen stadium in Boras, east of Gothenburg on March 5, 2011.

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Robin Soderling (SWE) d. Igor Andreev (RUS) 63 63 61
Joachim Johansson (SWE) d. Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) 63 76(4) 64 *
Simon Aspelin/Robert Lindstedt (SWE) d. Igor Kunitsyn/Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) 64 67(6) 76(6) 62
Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS) d Simon Aspelin (SWE) 75 62
Igor Andreev (RUS) d. Joachim Johansson (SWE) 76(8) 64

*This is Johansson's first high-level match in a year, coming out of retirement for a third (?) time.

KAZAKHSTAN defeats CZECH REPUBLIC 3-2 *
Venue: CZE Arena, Ostrava, CZE (hard – indoors)

AP

Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Jan Hajek (CZE) 76(4) 67(3) 16 76(4) 63
Tomas Berdych (CZE) d Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) 76(5) 62 63
Tomas Berdych/Lukas Dlouhy (CZE) d. Yuriy Schukin/Evgeny Korolev (KAZ) 64 64 76(4)
Andrey Golubev (KAZ) d. Tomas Berdych (CZE) 75 57 64 62
Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) d. Jan Hajek (CZE) 64 67(4) 76(8) 60

*This is Kazakhstan's World Group debut.

ARGENTINA defeats ROMANIA 4-1
Venue: Parque Roca, Buenos Aires, ARG (clay – outdoors)


Reuters

Argentina's Juan Ignacio Chela (L) and Eduardo Schwank celebrate after winning their Davis Cup doubles tennis match against Romania's Victor Hanescu and Horia Tecau in Buenos Aires March 5, 2011.

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David Nalbandian (ARG) d. Adrian Ungur (ROU) 63 62 57 64
Juan Monaco (ARG) d. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 76(5) 16 61 61
Juan Ignacio Chela/Eduardo Schwank (ARG) d. Victor Hanescu/Horia Tecau (ROU) 62 76(8) 61
Eduardo Schwank (ARG) d. Victor Hanescu (ROU) 76(3) 62
Juan Monaco (ARG) v Adrian Ungur (ROU)

USA defeats CHILE 4-1
Venue: Estadio Nacional, Santiago, CHI (clay – outdoors)


Reuters

Andy Roddick of the U.S shakes hand after beating Chile's Paul Capdeville in their Davis Cup tennis match in Santiago March 6, 2011.

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Andy Roddick (USA) d. Nicolas Massu (CHI) 62 46 63 64 *
Paul Capdeville (CHI) d. John Isner (USA) 67(5) 67(2) 76(3) 76(5) 64
Bob Bryan/Mike Bryan (USA) d. Jorge Aguilar/Nicolas Massu (CHI) 63 63 76(4)
Andy Roddick (USA) d. Paul Capdeville (CHI) 36 76(2) 63 64**
John Isner (USA) d. Guillermo Rivera-Aranguiz (CHI) 63 67(4) 75

*Coming into this tie, Roddick held a 1-3 career head-to-head against Massu, though they haven't played since 2006. This is his first victory over Massu on clay in three tries. Roddick's only victory over Massu? A Davis Cup rubber on grass in the United States back in 2006, the last year they played.

**Roddick's ninth consecutive Davis Cup victory when playing a rubber to close out a tie.

SPAIN defeats BELGIUM 4-1
Venue: Spiroudome, Charleroi, BEL (hard – indoors)


AP

Feliciano Lopez celebrate with Spain's Davis Cup team members after he and Fernando Verdasco won their Davis Cup World Group, first round tennis match against Belgium's Olivier Rochus and Steve Darcis in Charleroi, Belgium, Saturday, March 5, 2011. Spain leads after 2 days with 3-0 and qualifies for the next round.

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Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d. Xavier Malisse (BEL) 64 63 61
Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Ruben Bemelmans (BEL) 62 64 62
Feliciano Lopez/Fernando Verdasco (ESP) d. Xavier Malisse/Olivier Rochus (BEL) 76(0) 64 63
Rafael Nadal (ESP) d. Olivier Rochus 64 62
Steve Darcis (BEL) d. Feliciano Lopez (ESP) 67(4) 76(6) 76(3)

GERMANY defeats CROATIA 3-2
Venue: Dom Sportova, Zagreb, CRO (hard – indoors)


Reuters

Germany's Davis Cup team celebrate after defeating Croatia at the Davis Cup World Group first round match in Zagreb March 6, 2011.

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Marin Cilic (CRO) d. Florian Mayer (GER) 46 60 46 63 61
Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) d. Ivan Dodig (CRO) 64 36 36 76(6) 64
Christopher Kas/Philipp Petzschner (GER) d. Ivan Dodig/Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 63 36 75 36 64
Marin Cilic (CRO) d. Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER) 62 63 76(6)
Philipp Petzchner (GER) d. Ivo Karlovic (CRO) 64 76(3) 76(5)

FRANCE defeats AUSTRIA 3-2
Venue: Vienna Airport Hangar 3, Vienna, AUT (clay – indoors)

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Jeremy Chardy of France returns a shot to Austrian Martin Fischer during their Davis Cup first round match at the Schvechat airport hangar, 3,20 km east from Vienna, on March 6, 2011.

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Jeremy Chardy (FRA) d. Jurgen Melzer (AUT) 75 64 75
Gilles Simon (FRA) d. Stefan Koubek (AUT) 60 62 63
Oliver Marach/Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Julien Benneteau/Michael Llodra (FRA) 64 36 63 64
Jurgen Melzer (AUT) d. Gilles Simon (FRA) 76(7) 36 16 64 60
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) d. Martin Fischer (AUT) 26 76(4) 63 63

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This will be your open thread throughout the weekend.

Enjoy.

Djokovic Will NOT Play In The Davis Cup

Courtesy: Official Website

World no.3 Novak Djokovic will not join the Davis Cup team of Serbia for the Davis Cup World Group first round tie against India, that will be played on an indoor hard court at the Spens Sports Center in Novi Sad from 4-6 March.

After winning the Australian Open and completing a hat-trick of Dubai Championships titles, Nole is heading to California so he can prepare for a run on US hardcourts from March 10 when Indian Wells, the first of the nine ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events, starts. Djokovic is hoping to continue the year strong.

"I feel physically well, fit, and mentally motivated to do even more coming up to Indian Wells and Miami where I haven't done well in the last years. So I really want to work hard and get some good results in the US," said Novak about the upcoming challenges.

Serbia begins Davis Cup title defence next weekend. In 2010, Novak was leading his country to Davis Cup title (d. France 3-2) for the first time in its history, while going 7-0 in singles.

Everyone in the Serbian team knows it won’t be the same without Novak, but players, the reigning world champions, are optimistic and believe they will beat India without Nole in the squad.

Drive By

by Craig Hickman

David Ferrer defended a title. Novak Djokovic, too. Juan Martin del Potro returned to the winner's circle for the first time in his comeback.

Vera Zvonareva toppled the computer's top-ranked player to win her 11th title and Gisela Dulko took a singles title for the first time since 2008.

I don't typically watch any of the events on the calendar this week, finals included. Not even the one in the United States. The timing is all wrong. Not to mention sanctions.

Next up: Davis Cup.

Djokovic to skip the Davis Cup?

Novak Djokovic looks to be reconsidering his participation as Serbia's Davis Cup title defence begins next weekend in Novi Sad against India just six days after the world number three completed a hat-trick of Dubai Championships titles at the weekend.

'That's a question mark now,' admitted the two-time Australian Open winner after beating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-3 to claim his third straight title at the Aviation club. 'I'm still absorbing this victory. I will decide in the next two days.'

While the Davis Cup from Friday may be in question, there is no doubting that the Serb is well-placed for a run on US hardcourts from March 9 when Indian Wells, the first of the Masters 1000 events, starts.

Djokovic won the 2008 title in the Californian desert over Mardy Fish a year after losing a final to Rafael Nadal.

'It's really important to know for me that I can perform this well. This match has probably been one of the best that I played this year. I want to keep it up, definitely,' said Djokovic after his 71-minute win.

'I feel physically well, fit, and mentally motivated to do even more coming up to Indian Wells and Miami where I haven't done well in the last years. So I really want to work hard and get some good results in the US.

After titles in both of his ATP starts this season, the 23-year-old Djokovic remains the form player of 2011 after also putting out Federer in a Melbourne semi-final.

'I need to be on top of my game to win against Roger. Rafa or any top player you play against, you really have to be focused from the start, first to last point, because any time it could turn around.

'Any time I win against Roger it's a great success because he's such a great player. He's been number one for so many years and won so many titles. It's a huge challenge any time you play him, especially in the later stages of the tournament.'

Courtesy: M&C

Serbia - Davis Cup defence

The Serbian team will begin their defence of the Davis Cup against India on 4-6 February 2011.

The ITF has announced that the venue for this 1st Round tie will be held at the Spens Sports Center in the city of Novi Sad. The surface chosen is indoor hard court.

Novak's Father speaks out against Serbian Tennis Federation

Serbia's tennis federation deserved no credit for the national team's maiden Davis Cup win and needed "a thorough reconstruction", according to Srdjan Djokovic, father of world number three Novak Djokovic.

"The present TSS leadership, headed by Slobodan Zivojinovic, has nothing to do with Serbia's Davis Cup victory; we are the world tennis champions thanks to the players and their families only," the elder Djokovic said in a statement released to Belgrade media.

"I have no ambition to take over from Zivojinovic but the TSS needs a thorough reconstruction."
Davis Cup coach Bogdan Obradovic echoed Djokovic's remarks, saying the TSS had given little support to the players, who beat France 3-2 in the final in Belgrade last weekend.

"The Djokovic family wants fresh forces to take over and I am sure this will happen because both the players and I support changes," Obradovic told reporters.

"We need better facilities and I won't speculate who will replace whom in the TSS but I can assure you that staff changes will be made.

"The players have received slim financial support from the TSS all these years while we have achieved an incredible result by winning the Davis Cup in our first final.

"I know that we don't have resources like countries such as the United States but investments have to be at least partially proportional to our results," he said.

Zivojinovic, whose four-year mandate as TSS president expires this month, said in his own statement to Serbian media that he would run again.

"After what we have achieved this year, it is only natural that I will run for another four-year mandate so that we can complete the tasks ahead, namely building a national tennis centre and facilities for young talents," he said.

"I've had the privilege to be the TSS president in the most successful year for Serbian tennis and I have a realistic programme for the next four-year period, devoid of unrealistic promises which can't be kept."

Courtesy: Yahoo

Davis Cup team donate shirts

Novak, Viktor & Nenad are to donate their Davis Cup shirts to charity.  The money raised will go towards supporting reconstruction in the of city Kraljevo after the recent earthquake.

Here are the photos after the aution was announced in a Belgrade club called Mistique.  Let's hope they raise lots of money for this worthwhile cause.

Novak is now a stamp

The victorious Davis Cup team are now immortalised as national stamps to celebrate Serbia's "new sporting heroes".  All 4 members of the winning team, Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic, Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonjic are featured in action shots.  I wonder how long it will be before they run out of stock?

 

Davis Cup photos/videos

Here are all the photos & videos I have been able to find from the Davis Cup victory.

Serbia Wins Davis Cup, Makes History

by Craig Hickman


Reuters

Serbia's team captain Bogdan Obradovic and members Nenad Zimonjic, Novak Djokovic, Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki (L-R) raise up the Davis Cup trophy in Belgrade December 5, 2010.

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Relative to other tennis powerhouses, Serbian tennis remains underfunded. Still, the nation just won its first Davis Cup on the strings of unheralded Viktor Troicki.

It can thank Guy Forget, the coach of France's team, for a bit assist. Not that I didn't think Michael Llodra wouldn't make an intriguing choice in the final rubber. But his 30-year-old body didn't recover from yesterday's doubles marathon, and that was clear from the first point.

As someone tweeted, this tie was ultimately decided in the locker room this morning.

Amélie Mauresmo was not pleased.


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But make no mistake. Troicki earned his nation's victory with remarkable returns of serve, and viciously dipping passing shots that simply defied logic.

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He got the chance to secure victory on the strength of Novak Djokovic's play against Gael Monfils in the day's first match. (Monfils needs to rein in himself. He has zero on-court discipline. And I mean zero.)


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In the end, it was too easy. I had hoped for a more competitive final match of 2010, and perhaps with Gilles Simon, a counterpuncher who fights to the finish, the match may have featured a more compelling scoreline even if the result remained the same.

We'll never know.

What we do know is that Serbia becomes the 13th nation to win the Davis Cup and only the second in history to prevail in its final debut. Interestingly, Croatia was the first back in 2005.

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Serbian President Boris Tadic gestures.


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