Djokovic gutted after Davis Cup loss: “It’s a huge disappointment. This is a tough one to swallow”

The world No 1 missed three match points in his singles defeat by Jannik Sinner as Italy went on to reach the final

Zuma / Panoramic

November 25, 2023

No one wears their heart on their sleeve as obviously as Novak Djokovic when he plays for his country.

The 36-year-old world No 1 went into Saturday’s Davis Cup semi-final against Italy having not lost a singles match in the competition since 2011. He ended the day having missed three match points in the singles and lost both that and the doubles, to Jannik Sinner, as Italy won 2-1 to reach the final.

Djokovic was typically generous in his praise for Sinner, who showed incredible spirit as he saved the three match points down 5-4, 0-40 in the final set before levelling the tie and then winning the deciding doubles.

Djokovic always classy in defeat 👏#DavisCupFinals pic.twitter.com/3gc3tsGTWY
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) November 25, 2023

But the Serb, who led his country to victory in 2010, said this one would be a tough pill to swallow.

“For me personally it’s a huge disappointment, because I take the responsibility, obviously having three match points, being so close to win it,” he told reporters. “It’s unfortunate really. This is sport. When you lose for your country, you know, the bitter feeling is even greater.

Obviously this is a tough one to swallow. I was really, you know, trying to hype myself and encourage myself, you know, for this week. Throughout the entire season, you know, my thoughts were this week, you know, with my Davis Cup team.

Yeah, I tried to contribute. I did in the first tie, but today it wasn’t meant to be.

Missed opportunities in the singles

Kecmanovic had put Serbia in front after beating Lorenzo Musetti in three sets and Djokovic looked set to win the tie when he had Sinner down three match points in the 10th game of the decider.

But he couldn’t take them and then he and Kecmanovic were beaten in straight sets by Sinner and Sonego in the doubles.

“At this level against one of the best players in the world, everything happens really, really fast,” he said. “At Love-40 I was in the rally. I missed, but from middle of the court, sliced long, and he served a couple of big serves.

“Maybe I had a passing shot on 30-40, you know, but he was coming to the net. He was serving extremely well. It was difficult to read his serve, and he was hitting his spots whenever he needed to. Also today, Love-40, 3-2 for us, second-set doubles, again, serves on the line basically.”