Djokovic: It is important to represent Serbia in best possible way

BELGRADE - We have the strongest possible team, and it is important for the young players to feel the cult of the national team, the togetherness, the enormous love and the desire to represent Serbia in the best possible way on the international scene, Serbia's top-ranked male tennis player Novak Djokovic said ahead of this weekend's Davis Cup clash with Greece, who will be without their star player, Stefanos Tsitsipas.

The two teams will fight it out to stay in the Davis Cup World Group.

"Hopefully we can help and inspire younger generations," Djokovic told a press conference.

He looked back on his achievements in 2024 and the gold medal he won at the Paris Olympics.

"Being 100 per cent ready is no guarantee of winning anything but, of course, the chances are much higher... Every year is a challenge for me. The gold medal was the main objective this season..., it is my biggest success and something I am the most proud of," he said.

Serbia head coach Viktor Troicki noted that he expected support from home fans.

"We have not played in Belgrade in a long time, we want to go back to winning ways and get rid of the bad taste Kraljevo (last season's Davis Cup defeat to Slovakia) has left in our mouths, and that is why we will be playing with our strongest lineup, with the exception of Laslo Djere, who is injured," Troicki said.

"We are going for the win and we are the favourites, but we will not adopt a laid-back approach," Troicki said.

On Saturday, Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic will take on Greece's Aristotelis Thanos and Djokovic will face Ioannis Xilas.

On Sunday, Djokovic and Hamad Medjedovic will play the Greek double of Petros Tsitsipas and Demetris Azoides, with Djokovic to take on Thanos and Kecmanovic to face Xilas in the remaining singles matches.