FORMIDABLE Novak Djokovic sealed Great Britain’s departure from the World Cup of Tennis with a KISS – then told drum-banging Brits to “shut up”.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion bashed up Cameron Norrie 6-4 6-4 to secure an unassailable victory for his country in tonight’s Davis Cup quarter-final tie in Malaga.
ReutersNovak Djokovic unleashed a fierce blast a drum-banging British fans[/caption]
EPAThat was after he sealed Great Britain’s Davis Cup exit with a kiss[/caption]
After Jack Draper was defeated 7-6 7-6 by Miomir Kecmanovic, Djokovic was then fist-pumping and ear-cupping his way to a straightforward victory over the highest-ranked Brit.
The world No.1 has not lost a Davis Cup singles rubber for 12 years and he was in no mood whatsoever to change that record.
With a fourth straight win over Norrie, he silenced the 5,000 British fans in the arena, which included the drum-banging ‘Murraynators’.
And after claiming the first set in 47 minutes, he blew two KISSES to one rowdy Brit who had been ticked off by the umpire for making too much noise before he was serving.
Djokovic has lost only once to someone with a Union flag on their chest in seven years and he showed Norrie, eight years his junior, why he is arguably the best male player involved in this sport.
The 36-year-old could have easily hung up his racquet at the end of a draining campaign, in which he has claimed three of the four Slams, but he is desperate to win this team event for just the second time in his career.
In an on-court interview, angry Djokovic told some of the loutish fans, who were banging drums: “We’re going to have a good sleep tonight, keep going, keep going. Learn how to respect players…No, you shut up. No, you be quiet.”
Then he said: “A great match, playing for your country is always the greatest pleasure and motivation. A lot of emotions and responsibilities on the court after a long season.
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“You can feel it in the legs. I started off the match well. I served very well when I needed to. Norrie raised his level towards the middle of the second set and towards the end of the match.
“It is difficult to play a left-hander, I haven’t played many lately. It is great to finish the job after the singles. Overall, it’s great to finish off the job.”
For Britain, questions might be asked now about the future of skipper Leon Smith, who did lift the trophy in 2015 but has overseen three last-eight exits since then.
Unless the ITF take pity and hand them a group-stage wildcard for next September, Britain will have to negotiate a playoff in February in the week immediately after the Australian Open in Melbourne — the draw for that is on Sunday.
In Smith’s defence, it was always going to be one almighty challenge to eliminate Serbia, who now face Jannik Sinner’s Italy in the last four on Saturday.
Especially with Andy Murray out with a shoulder injury and British No.2 Dan Evans – who was cheerleading in the stands after a heavy night out – absent with a calf problem
Draper, who has endured an injury-ravaged campaign, was elevated into the second singles spot in the team.
Yet he was unable to find a way past the stubborn Kecmanovic – ranked five places higher in the world – in a two-hour opening rubber.
With his white baseball cap on the wrong way round, the Sutton Southpaw, 21, was only making his second appearance in this competition.
But the four double faults he delivered, with two of them coming in the first-set tie-break, will haunt him throughout the off-season.
Draper, who is ranked 60th in the world, said: “I wouldn’t say I returned amazingly well but when I did get the return back on court, it seemed like he had the answer most of the time.
“He was definitely better behind the serve than I was for sure.
“His tennis level is, at times, I think top 10 in the world. He doesn’t miss many balls. His ball speed is good off both sides, very consistent. When he plays well, he’s very tough to beat.
“This is invaluable experience for me at a young age. That’s the kind of pressure that if I want to be a top player, I have to cope with and have to perform under.”
Italy, whose solitary Davis Cup triumph came in 1976, qualified for the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over Holland.
They clinched progression when world No.4 Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego beat Tallon Griekspoor and Wesley Koolhof 6-3 6-4 in the decisive doubles tie.
Friday’s last-four contest involves six-time winners Australia and surprise packages Finland.