Andy Murray named in Great Britain Davis Cup squad to face Novak Djokovic’s Serbia

Ewan West
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray practise
Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray on court

Great Britain have named an unchanged squad for their Davis Cup tie against Serbia next month, with Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic set to compete for their respective nations.

Leon Smith, Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain, recognised his side will face a “big challenge” against Djokovic’s Serbia but said his players are heading into the tie with “confidence and belief.”

Great Britain will take on Serbia in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Davis Cup in Malaga in their first knockout tie of the Finals stage of the international team competition.

The knockout stage will take place through November 21-26 in Malaga, with the clash between Great Britain and Serbia to be played on November 23.

Smith’s team progressed to the Davis Cup Finals knockout stage after victories over Australia, Switzerland and France in Manchester saw them top Group B in the round-robin phase last month.

Dan Evans won his singles and doubles matches to inspire the British side to the dramatic win over France in the third and final tie that ensured their progress.

Smith looked ahead to Britain’s meeting with Serbia, who will be led by 24-time Grand Slam champion and world No 1 Djokovic.

“We will go to Malaga with confidence and belief that we can be successful. The quarter-final versus Serbia will of course be a big challenge with a team led by world number one Novak Djokovic but we have to believe we can win,” said Smith.

Viktor Troicki, Serbia’s Davis Cup captain and a former world No 12, has also picked his squad for the tie and has made one change to the previous team, according to a report by Serbian outlet Tanjug.

Rising ATP singles star Hamad Medjedovic has replaced doubles specialist Nikola Cacic, while Djokovic, Laslo Djere, Dusan Lajovic and Miomir Kecmanovic complete the five-man Serbian squad.

Serbia finished second in Group C to advance to the knockout stage after beating South Korea and Spain and losing to group winners Czech Republic.

The winner of the tie between Great Britain and Serbia will take on either Italy or the Netherlands in the semi-finals on November 25.

In the top half of the draw, Canada will face Finland, while Czech Republic will play Australia.

Since his triumph at the US Open in September, Djokovic has repeatedly outlined that winning a second Davis Cup title for his nation is his primary goal for the remainder of the season.

“Preparations are underway for the final part of the season, I have three tournaments left in which I will participate,” Djokovic told Sportal in an interview this month.

“I’m looking forward to the challenges, I’m still in the race to finish No 1, with Alcaraz in that fight, there are still a few weeks, just enough to bring my game to the desired level.

“Probably, the five-week break will affect the beginning a little, I hope that I will be able to overcome it as soon as possible and enter the desired level and quality of competitive tennis very soon.

“Expectations are high, I had a lot of success in Paris-Bercy and I expect nothing less this year. My biggest wish is to win the Davis Cup, I hope we will be healthy and fit and I hope I can finish the year as No 1 and win at least one more title.”

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