© Getty Images Sport – Warren Little
Davis Cup Finals tournament director Feliciano Lopez showed major respect and appreciation for Novak Djokovic over the Serb’s decision to come to the Davis Cup just days after winning the US Open. On Sunday, Djokovic won his 24th Grand Slam title after beating Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.
On Wednesday, Djokovic landed in Valencia for the Davis Cup Finals group stage. “He won the 24th Grand Slam title and immediately came to play for his national team. This is how this competition is respected, Novak is the best example.
We are very grateful that he came, but it is also important that people see what the Davis Cup means to the players and to the world of tennis. The fact that someone like Novak came says a lot about how he keeps his word, but he also points out that this competition evokes incredible emotions that he also wants to experience again,” Lopez said.
Lopez applauds Djokovic’s decision to play the Davis Cup
In Group C, Serbia is competing against Spain, Spain and Korea.
Lopez, who won four Davis Cup titles with Spain during his pro career, says the Djokovic-led Serbia is the favorite to win Group C. For Spain, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal are not playing. “Serbia is the favorite, it will not be easy for Spain.
Many players are missing. It is a difficult group, but we will fight until the end. Spain did not always win, but it never surrendered against anyone,” Lopez said. In Valencia, Djokovic is the only top-10 player representing his country.
For many years, top players not competing in the Davis Cup has been an issue for the competition. “No format guarantees that everyone from the top will play. Such is the long-term experience of the Davis Cup. Simply, the tournament calendar is very busy, tennis players have their obligations and we cannot complain about them,” Lopez said.
