Davis Cup: World No 1 Novak Djokovic will miss Serbia's Davis Cup World Group play-off in India
Monday 8 September 2014 11:01, UK
World No 1 Novak Djokovic will miss Serbia's Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against India in Bangalore this weekend.
Djokovic, who secured his seventh grand slam title at Wimbledon in July, suffered a shock defeat by Japan's Kei Nishikori in the US Open semi-finals on Saturday.
"Djokovic will definitely not join us in India and his fatigue is the biggest reason," Serbia coach Bogdan Obardovic said.
"He's had a demanding season and needs a respite, while travelling to India across many time zones from New York and playing in hot and humid conditions in Bangalore would be a massive exertion.
"Novak will be cheering for us from the bottom of his heart."
A depleted Serbia, the competition's 2010 winners, face the prospect of being eliminated from the World Group for the first time since they broke into the top tier in 2007 if they lose in India.
The sharp decline started after reaching last year's final and they will again have to rely on a second-string team in Bangalore, with 24-year-old Dusan Lajovic their best-ranked singles player in the world at No 61.
Serbia will also be without Janko Tipsarevic and Viktor Troicki, with world No 107 Filip Krajinovic, No 171 Ilija Bozoljac and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic in the squad for the September 12 to 14 tie.
