Google News Dusan Lajovic: Novak Djokovic big favorite in every group stage match at DC Finals
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 2310
Dusan Lajovic admitted that Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev skipping the Davis Cup Finals will make things easier for Serbia and also added that he believes having Novak Djokovic on their side will be a big advantage for the Serbs.
Serbia is set to battle Austria and Germany in the group stage of the Davis Cup Finals in Innsbruck. The Serbs are the big favorites to win the group and progress into the quarterfinal. "Dominic Thiem and Alexander Zverev won't play and that makes things easier for us," Lajovic told Blic.
"We have Novak Djokovic, who will be a big favorite in his matches. The Germans have quality singles players in the likes of Jan-Lennard Struff and Dominik Koepfer. I think Novak played Struff a couple of times and never had problems against him.
Better to have Struff as the Germany's top option than Alexander Zverev."
Djokovic lost to Zverev at the ATP Finals
After beating Djokovic at the ATP Finals, Zverev reflected on the Australian Open banning unvaccinated players from playing.
“We are visiting another country,” Zverev said. “This is not about tennis. This is about the virus that is going on, right? This is not about a tournament or tennis. We are visiting a different country. At the end of the day the country is allowing us to enter.
We need to follow the rules and follow the guidelines." Zverev hopes Djokovic plays but admitted not having Djokovic at Melbourne Park would boost his chances of winning the Australian Open. Djokovic is a record nine-tine Australian Open champion.
“I hope he’s able to play. At the end of the day, I’m No 3 in the world, so if he doesn’t play, it’s easier to win the tournament. This is obvious. Also he’s No 1 in the world so he should be there.
Hopefully the Australian government will make an exemption or whatever it is that they can do for him to be able to participate there," Zverev said.