This year’s Nitto ATP Finals champion Novak Djokovic secured Serbia a spot in the Davis Cup semifinals with his 6-4 6-4 win over British player Cameron Norrie in 1 hour and 41 minutes.
Djokovic broke early in each set and dominated on his own serve. The Serbian player dropped just eight points on serve and never faced a break point. He hit 16 forehand winners.
Djokovic hit 21 winners to 21 unforced errors. Norrie faced 12 break points and made 12 winners to 24 unforced errors.
Serbia set up a semifinal match against Italy on Saturday. Djokovic will face Jannik Sinner for the third time in less than two weeks.
Earlier today Miomir Kecmanovic beat Jack Draper 7-6 (7-2) 7-6 (8-6) in a hard-fought match to score the first point for Serbia.
Draper saved two break points in a long eighth game of the first set. The British player faced two set points at 4-5, but he saved them. Kecmanovic earned two mini-breaks to win the tie-break 7-2 after two double faults from Draper.
Neither player faced a break point in the second set. Draper lost five consecutive points from 2-0 up in the tie-break. The British player won three consecutive points to draw level to 5-5 before saving a match point with a volley. Kecmanovic earned a second match point after a wayward forehand from Draper. The Serbian player sealed the win when Draper netter a return.
Kecmanovic came into the tie on a four-match losing streak. He has not won a match since reaching the semifinals in Stockolm last October.
“There was definitely a few ups and downs in the way I was feeling physically, because that’s what nerves do. They just take over sometimes. I gave myself the best opportunity to stay in the match. I gave myself chances. I think I got beaten by a better player today”, said Draper.
