Davis Cup: easy game for Djokovic and the Serbs in Innsbruck?
Serbia with Novak Djokovic would also have been the group favorite if Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev had competed in Innsbruck. Without the two German-speaking superstars, things could get very one-sided.
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Oct 25, 2021, 09:47 pm
And so the team nominations for the Davis Cup final tournaments on yesterday Monday arrived almost every hour, with a few surprises (such as the comeback of the long-term injured Borna Coric in the Croatians who play in Turin) and some non-surprises (such as the Certainly that Alexander Zverev will definitely not serve in Innsbruck).
The Tyrolean capital is certainly the focus of interest among German-speaking fans, the initial situation was also very promising: A group in which the top three people are Zverev, Dominic Thiem and Novak Djokovic promised great tennis at the foot of the Patscherkofel. Well, the German number one can't do anything with the format and prefers to take a well-deserved break. Thiem should hopefully be ready to be able to train fully again by the end of November, but after the health setback in the summer, an assignment was out of the question.
Djokovic victorious against Struff six times
So there is only industry leader Djokovic, who preceded the Serbian team as a frontman in Madrid in 2019. The story of the top singles is easy to tell: Novak Djokovic has won all six games against Jan-Lennard Struff, Dennis Novak has not yet had the dubious pleasure. Novak always surpasses himself in the Davis Cup, but Djokovic's task would require a multiple ration of Popeye's spinach.
The matchups of the number two players promise a little more excitement, but both Filip Krajinovic and Dusan Lajovic are favorites in their matches against Jurij Rodionov and Dominik Koepfer. Unless DTB team boss Michael Kohlmann plays poker - and sends Peter Gojowczyk into the race against Lajovic. The man from Munich only recently beat the Serb at the US Open.
The second group that will go to the Bütt in Innsbruck is also attractively occupied: The British are counting on Indian Wells Champion Cameron Norrie and Daniel Evans. For France, Halle winner Udo Humbert and veteran Richard Gasquet are expected in the singles, maybe Arthur Rinderknech will also get a job. The good years are over for the Czechs, but top man Jiri Vesely can always be expected in the hall.