Davis Cup: Novak Djokovic seeks to put behind US Open disappointment

Making things even more difficult for the 26-year-old Serb is the choice of an indoor clay court — originally picked by the hosts to dampen Raonic’s booming serve — that he will have to adjust to in the middle of the hard-court season.

“It’s obvious that I’m tired,time zones,jet leg,plus adjustment to the clay,but I feel fine and have a lot of motivation playing for my country,” Djokovic said. Canada has never made it this far in the Davis Cup,while Serbia won the event in 2010. Raonic said Serbia is the favorite,“but that doesn’t mean we don’t have our chances.”

No rest for Nadal

MADRID: Meanwhile,Rafa Nadal will play Sergiy Stakhovsky in Friday’s second Davis Cup singles rubber after Spain announced their lineup for the World Group playoff at home to Ukraine on Thursday. There had been doubt over world number two Nadal’s participation in the three-day tie in Madrid after his recent exertions in New York. Nadal arrived in the Spanish capital early on Wednesday and after training at the “Magic Box” venue the 27-year-old was named in the team for Thursday’s draw by captain Alex Corretja.

“When I have been asked and have been free of injury I have always turned out to try to help the team win points and secure victories,” Nadal told a news conference. “I have been playing at the maximum intensity for practically a whole month and obviously that has a draining effect,” he added. “But I am ready for tomorrow.”

STEPANEK FOR OPENER

U.S. Open doubles champion Radek Stepanek faces Argentina’s Juan Monaco in the opening singles of the Czech Republic’s Davis Cup semi-final on Friday as the defending champions bid to reach a third final in five years. World number five Tomas Berdych will then take on Argentine Leonardo Mayer in the second of the opening day’s matches in Prague.