The King has returned! After his US Open title defense was thwarted in the third round, Novak Djokovic opened up on how he was “not feeling fresh mentally and physically,” after spending all his energy on acquiring a gold medal in the Olympics. However, the wait is over and the Serb is back in action in Belgrade, hinting at his next season target!
The official Instagram account of Davis Cup posted a video of Novak Djokovic’s training ahead of the upcoming battle between Greece and Serbia at the Aleksandar Nikolic Hall in Belgrade, Serbia. Although Djokovic has himself not confirmed his participation in the matches starting on September 14-15, he was captured hitting his racquets on an indoor court in his home country. The caption on the post read, “Novak has landed in Belgrade to help Team Serbia against Greece later this week.” The 24 Grand Slam champion trained with his team while also sharing some fun fan moments inside the court in between his practice.
Unfortunately, in February, Novak Djokovic remained absent from the Serbian team, costing his team a 0-4 loss to Slovakia and a fall to the World Group 1 level in the event. However, now, if Djokovic returns to the game along with his teammates, Dusan Lajovic, Hamad Medjedovic, and Miomir Kecmanovic, hopefully, he will help elevate the team to success again.
Moreover, with the world No. 11, Stefanos Tsitsipas‘ withdrawal from the Davis Cup owing to his injury, Djokovic’s path to glory does not seem unlikely with the 38-year-old former Serbian tennis pro, Viktor Troicki, leading the team. Moreover, since his debut in the event in 2004, Novak Djokovic has successfully acquired an impressive 40-8 W/L record in the singles.
Therefore, fans are eager to see Djokovic, who has not earned any singles titles this year, return with renewed vigor in the event and help lead his team to the qualifying round for the 2025 Davis Cup. However, last year, the situation was different, as Novak Djokovic saw his dreams shattered just before the Davis Cup finals!
Novak Djokovic’s “disappointing” Davis Cup experience
Davis Cup is one of my goals this season,” Novak Djokovic said in 2023 before falling short to Jannik Sinner and his team in the semifinals. While Serbia kept waiting for its first title since 2010, Sinner and his team went ahead and lifted the trophy. After his defeat in the singles and doubles in the Davis Cup against Italy, Djokovic congratulated Italy for their impressive performance.
Further adding, Djokovic said, “They deserved it. They played really well, particularly Jannik, in singles against me and then doubles as well. He barely missed a ball the entire match. For me personally,, it’s a huge disappointment because I take the responsibility of weekly having three match points being so close to winning it.” The 37-year-old admitted to feeling “bitter” after the loss as he could not take his nation forward in the game.
The upcoming Davis Cup is sure to be an electrifying event, with both Serbia and Greece showcasing their talented players. Will Djokovic step onto the court, or will he support his team from the sidelines? One thing is certain: this is a match you won’t want to miss!