25. 09. 2010. ยท While a place in the Davis Cup final is unlikely to make up for his defeat to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final, it will certainly go some way to cheer Novak Djokovic.
Despite finishing a gruelling fortnight as second fiddle to the world No. 1, who completed a career Grand Slam and secured his year-end status as the world’s top-ranked player, Djokovic refused to bury his head in the sand.
Less than three days after his defeat, Djokovic was defying physical exhaustion and jetlag to be in Belgrade for Serbia’s Davis Cup semi-final against last year’s finalists Czech Republic, having pledged to play for his country.
On a weekend in which Roger Federer opted out of Switzerland’s play-off against Kazakhstan, Djokovic was the only member of the world’s top 6 in action, showing the kind of patriotism that England fans would be proud to see in their national football team.
”I am sure I will be able to beat the fatigue because our motivation and desire to reach the final are huge,” he said before the tie.
But despite his wholehearted enthusiasm, the world No. 2 was struck down by a stomach bug, and was forced to watch as his replacement Viktor Troicki lost to Radek Stepanek in the opening rubber.
Janko Tipsarevic’s impressive win over Tomas Berdych ensured the Czechs didn’t run away with tie, and Djokovic dragged himself out of bed on the Saturday to return to action. Partnering Nenad Zimonjic in the doubles, the pair fell in four sets to Stepanek and Berdych, and the Czechs were one win away from the final.
If Djokovic was not entirely on top of his game or showing signs of fatigue, it could have been excusable, but it was his partner who was the weaker and was let down by his service game.
After the doubles defeat, Djokovic could be forgiven for not wanting to bother with the singles – after a chaotic three weeks, he could be forgiven for using fatigue, jetlag or even sickness as an excuse.
But the first Serbian to win a Grand Slam singles title sealed his place in his nation’s sporting history once again, leading Serbia to their first Davis Cup final.
It was fitting that Djokovic’s match was the fourth one – the man who lost the US Open final with so much dignity and grace, did the ground work without taking the glory. That honour was left to Tipsarevic, who deservedly took the plaudits after beating Stepanek to seal an historic victory for Serbia.
”Tipsarevic was the hero of this magnificent victory, he proved that he is a real champion and kept remarkably cool under great pressure,” Djokovic said of his team-mate.
But Tipsarevic’s victory would have been irrelevant if Djokovic had not fought with every last ounce of energy to draw the tie level and take the match to a deciding fifth rubber.
Already a set down against Wimbledon finalist Berdych on Sunday morning, Djokovic was struck down by a knee injury and it looked like Serbia’s fairytale final was lost, but in a sport that is inherently individual, Djokovic proved himself a team player.
If Djokovic had won that final in New York, there is no doubt he would have had the energy to play in Belgrade. It is the pain of defeat; the agony at falling at the final hurdle that saps a player’s energy.
After Andy Murray’s defeat to Federer in the Australian Open final in January, the British No. 1 went AWOL – it took him four months to rediscover his game.
That said, we will never know whether Djokovic would have been quite so fired up for the Davis Cup if he’d got a US Open trophy in his cabinet.
But in front of a buzzing crowd in Belgrade, the Djoker wore his heart on his sleeve, putting the disappointment of New York firmly behind him.
Author: Jo Carter (ESPN)
