Angel Martinez/Getty Images for ITF
On Sunday night, Novak Djokovic was lifting the Nitto ATP Finals trophy for a record seventh time. Less than 24 hours had passed when he boarded a flight on Monday at 4:10 pm CET, carrying the No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings from Turin to Malaga, where he joined Serbia’s team in the Final 8 of the Davis Cup.
In the terminal, he was awaited by Feliciano Lopez, the director of the Davis Cup, who gave him a special welcome: “What’s up, man?! Congratulations!” “Hey, man,” Djokovic answered jokingly before a warm embrace.
The Balkan side, captained by Viktor Troicki, and led by Djokovic, will also count Laslo Djere, Dusan Lajovic, Miomir Kecmanovic and Hamad Medjedovic among its ranks.
Serbia will play in the quarter-finals of the competition on Thursday 23 November (not before 4:00 pm CET) against a Great Britain outfit that will have to make do without Andy Murray, who recently announced his withdrawal. The news means Cameron Norrie, Jack Draper, Liam Broady, Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury will take on Djokovic’s men.
Salisbury is also arriving at the Davis Cup as a Nitto ATP Finals champion having claimed the doubles crown alongside the American Rajeev Ram. On Sunday they successfully defended the title they earned last year in Turin.
Djokovic, who celebrates his 400th week as the World No. 1 this week, has played 61 matches this season, with a record of 55-6. He will now try to put the icing on the cake after a brilliant season with victory at the Davis Cup and what would be his second Salad Bowl (2010).
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