 Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |  Photographer: Srdjan Stevanovic
Date: 07 Feb 2008 |
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| 07 Feb 2008 - Small Sports Arena "Luzhniki", Moscow - Chris Bowers | |
| Djokovic Youzhny to open Russia v Serbia showdown |
The next stage of Novak Djokovic’s career begins here in Moscow as he leads his country in its first World Group tie in the Davis Cup by BNP Paribas first round between Serbia and Russia.
So much was made of Djokovic’s achievement in breaking the three-year Grand Slam stranglehold of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, that his first match after winning the Australian Open has attracted massive attention. And Thursday’s draw for one of the most finely balanced ties of the first round has put him against a man he lost to twice in successive weeks this time last year, Mikhail Youzhny.
The draw, which took place on the hard court in the Luzhniki arena that plays host to this weekend’s action, has left the weekend set-up like this:
Friday
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)
Saturday
Marat Safin/Dmitry Tursunov (RUS) v Novak Djokovic/Nenad Zimonjic (SRB)
Sunday
Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)
What seems clear is that Djokovic will have to win his three rubbers if Serbia is to triumph. That situation existed before the teams arrived in Moscow, but the stomach virus that afflicted Janko Tipsarevic, the 46th-ranked No. 2 Serb who took Roger Federer to five exhilarating sets in Melbourne 19 days ago, means Serbia go into the opening day with a player who has never played a Davis Cup rubber before, let alone a world No. 4 in his capital city. Tipsarevic is likely to be fit for a fifth rubber, should it be necessary.
His replacement is Viktor Troicki, the player who lost to Nadal at the Australian Open. At No. 114 in the rankings, he goes into the second singles with no pressure but a slim chance of an upset given that Davydenko’s singles form in Davis Cup has been patchy at best, and on his last outing in the Luzhniki arena he lost in four sets to France’s Paul-Henri Mathieu.
But all eyes will be on the first match, in which Djokovic takes to the court for the first time as a Grand Slam champion. In the 11 days since winning in Melbourne, he has been feted back home as a national hero, but knows that success in team sports counts for as much with his fiercely patriotic countryfolk as a Grand Slam singles title.
“I’ve been going through a lot of great emotions,” he said, “I had an amazing reception back home and winning a first Slam in the history of Serbian tennis is a fantastic achievement. I feel very proud and happy, but now I have to turn around and not forget about winning a Grand Slam but just try to focus on the continuation of my season.
“Serbia doesn’t have a great tennis tradition, but now it’s become a number one sport, so everyone is trying to follow and support us, they greet us and give a lot of compliments, so for them it’s very important to see us doing well in the Davis Cup, and the Fed Cup as well.”
There will be no room for sentiment when Djokovic opens this tie against Youzhny, one of the in-form players over the first five weeks of the tennis year. He won the title in Chennai and beat his teammate Davydenko en route to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open where he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Perhaps more importantly, he beat Djokovic twice in successive weeks on indoor hard courts this time last year – in Marseille and Rotterdam – and while Djokovic is a vastly improved player since then, Youzhny will take confidence from his two tight three-sets wins.
At Wednesday’s official dinner, Russia’s captain Shamil Tarpischev made an interesting comment. He said of Russia and Serbia: “These are probably the two countries in the world who suffered most at the hands of the world community.” While it was at one level a diplomatic nicety designed to build bridges with his guests, it does summarise the siege mentality that has led both nations to achieve so much in sports in general and tennis in particular. This weekend could be the irresistible force meeting the immovable object, and it may take a large part of Sunday night before the outcome is decided.
Related Links on other websites
> Information in Russian - RTF
Related Links on Daviscup.com
> Tie Information
> Scorecards and stats from this tie
Related Audio
 Interview with Shamil Tarpischev (RUS) - draw day
Interview with Victor Troicki (SRB) - draw day
Interview with Nikolay Davydenko (RUS) - draw day
Interview with Mikhail Youzhny (RUS) - draw day
Interview with Novak Djokovic (SRB)
 
If you cannot hear the audio, then please update your media player by following one of the links above.
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