Novak Djokovic withdraws from Davis Cup tie against Argentina – Tennis News
Reigning world number one and top ranked Serb, Novak Djokovic pulled out of the Davis Cup semi-final tie against Team Argentina. The Serb was set to lead the Serbian team into the semi-final as they hosted the Argentines in Belgrade
on Friday, September 16th.
Tweeted on the Davis Cup official site, Djokovic had pulled out of the tie on account of lower back and rib pain. Djokovic’s absence from the tie was most talked about after his 2011 US Open win. The Serb was expected to miss the
event on account of resting after a long, arduous yet successful season.
The top ranked Serb had, however, put these rumours to rest after showing up for the draw on 15th September where he was picked to open against Argentina’s number two and former world number three, David Nalbandian.
Djokovic is replaced by Serbian number two and current world number fifteen, Viktor Troicki.
Although Djokovic’s absence may hurt Serbia’s chances of continuing their successful title defence, Troicki and Janko Tipsarevic’s current form suggests that the two are more than capable of shouldering the responsibility.
Djokovic had also earlier missed Team Serbia’s opening round tie against Team India in March. However, the absence of the juggernaut of 2011 did not hamper the team’s chances as Serbia steamrolled the Indians with a 4-1 victory.
However, the Serb had returned for the quarterfinal tie against Team Sweden though he only played in the doubles rubber partnering Nenad Zimonjic.
Winner of both his singles rubbers in December 2010, Djokovic had led Serbia to a maiden title victory against France. These victories had also marked the start of Djokovic’s forty four match winning streak which was finally snapped
by Roger Federer in June in the semi-final of the 2011 Roland Garros, though only after Djoker had clinched titles at the 2011 Australian Open and also at Indian Wells, Miami, Madrid, Rome, Belgrade and Dubai.
The injury that puts Djoker out of the Davis Cup tie had reared its ugly head once before in the title match of the Cincinnati Masters where he had to withdraw to hand over a retirement title victory to top Brit Andy Murray. Djokovic
once more felt the pain during the final of the 2011 US Open though he played through it to do away with defending champion, Rafael Nadal and clinch his third Grand Slam title of the year. He had earlier also won the 2011 Wimbledon Championships.
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