World No1 Novak Djokovic will not play for Serbia in the Davis Cup World Group playoff tie against India in Bangalore this weekend, team coach Bogdan Obradovic said yesterday.
“I spoke to Djokovic last night and he said he will not be coming to India,” Obradovic was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India in the southern Indian city where the tie opens on Friday. Djokovic, who claimed his seventh major title in July when he won Wimbledon, was stunned by Japan’s Kei Nishikori in the US Open semi-final.
Serbia won the Davis Cup in 2010. But they were relegated to the play-offs for the first time since 2007 when, playing without Djokovic, they lost to Roger Federer’s Switzerland in the World Group first round in February.
Djokovic’s loss is a further blow to the Serbs who are already depleted by injuries to Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki.
The 61st-ranked Dusan Lajovic, aged 24, will be the main singles player. Others in the squad are world No107 Filip Krajinovic and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic.
India, hoping to return to the elite 16-nation World Group after a three-year absence, will have Somdev Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri as the two singles players. Veteran Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna are expected to play the doubles.
On his part, Devvarman said the absence of Djokovic was good news for the players, but not so much for the fans.
“It would have been sweet had the World No1 been here. It would have been good for tennis and the fans. Obviously, our chances are a lot better with him not playing but their singles players are higher ranked than us (Devvarman and Yuki Bhambri). So we have to play really well,” he said.
