What Novak Djokovic failed to achieve in 2023 despite it being one of his ‘greatest goals’ that season
Novak Djokovic won his first and only Davis Cup title in 2010.
The team – unseeded at the event – defeated the US, Croatia, and the Czech Republic on their way to the final.
There, Djokovic and his teammates faced a tough proposition in the form of France.
Serbia and France split the opening two singles matches, with Gael Monfils defeating Janko Tipsarevic and Djokovic defeating Gilles Simon.
France took a 2-1 lead heading into the final day after Arnaud Clement and Michael Llodra defeated Viktor Troicki and Nenad Zimonijc in five sets.
The Serbs produced a stunning turnaround: Djokovic defeated Gael Monfils and Troicki beat Llodra to secure their country’s first Davis Cup title.
Around 13 years later, Djokovic expressed his desire to win a second Davis Cup title.
Novak Djokovic said winning the 2023 Davis Cup was one of his ‘greatest goals’
Speaking to the Davis Cup in 2023, Djokovic detailed his desire to add a second Davis Cup to Serbia’s collection after winning his seventh ATP Finals.
Djokovic, who holds the record for the most weeks at ATP number one, said: “I came the next day. I got a day and a half of rest and I started training right away, because obviously there is not much time to really leave the racquet aside. It’s the last week of the season so one final push is necessary from each one of us, and I’m excited because I have been playing some really good tennis, particularly in the last four months of the season.”
“I couldn’t be happier with the way I performed in the semifinals and finals of Torino, so hopefully I’m carrying this kind of energy and performance level to the Davis Cup.”
I’m grateful to be once again in the national team. As I said many months ago, actually the beginning of the season, Davis Cup has been and is one of my greatest goals of this season and always is. Hopefully I will be able to contribute to win.”
At the 2023 Davis Cup Finals, Serbia finished second in their group after defeating South Korea and Spain 3-0 and losing 0-3 to Czechia.
In the quarter-finals, Miomir Kecmanovic and Djokovic secured victories, securing a 2-0 victory over Great Britain.
In the semi-finals, Kecmanovic defeated Lorenzo Musetti to give Serbia a commanding 1-0 lead.
However, Djokovic then lost to Jannik Sinner in straight sets. Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego compounded the misery of Serbian tennis fans by beating Djokovic and Kecmanovic 6-3, 6-4 in the deciding rubber.
Italy went on to win the tournament, defeating Australia in the final.
