Davis Cup Finals: Serbia equalizes! Novak Djokovic beats Marin Cilic
Novak Djokovic equalized for Serbia in the semi-finals of the Davis Cup finals. The world number one defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets. Now the doubles have to make the decision. There the number one duo Pavic / Mektic goes into the race as big favorites against Djokovic / Cacic.
by Michael Rothschädl
last edit: Dec 03, 2021, 08:14 pm
Novak Djokovic really doesn't have it easy at the Davis Cup Finals in 2021. It is true that strong individual players from the second row crowd around the world number one. Filip Krajinovic, Dusan Lajovic and Miomir Kecmanovic are all looking for their form - and have not really found it yet in the Davis Cup final tournament.
In the semi-final duel between Serbia and Croatia, the world number one had to go into his individual on Friday after Lajovic's defeat against Borna Gojo, 0: 1 behind. The extra piquancy: Even if the Serb can equalize against Marin Cilic, the chances for the men for Viktor Troicki are not necessarily good. Croatia sends the world number one Pavic / Mektic into the decisive double.
Djokovic ice cold in crucial moments
Nonetheless, the industry leader shows a strong performance at the end of the season and was not upset in the duel with Marin Cilic. Set one lapsed for a long time, but in the ninth game of the first round the world number one struck, made the break and served set one - with a bit of a stomachache and four defended breakballs.
In set two, Djokovic left no doubts, increased the number of strokes from the start and broke in game three. The 20-time major winner could not be denied this advantage - with 6: 4 and 6: 2 the Serb made the balance perfectly. So now the double has to bring the decision. In this, Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic meet Nikola Cacic and Novak Djokovic from the Serbs on the Croatian side.