Novak Djokovic eliminated from Davis Cup 2021 by Croatia

It could not be. One more time Novak Djokovic he is on the verge of fighting for one of the objectives that generate the most enthusiasm for him. The best player in the world has been very lonely in this Davis Cup 2021, with some teammates unable to win their individual matches and demanding continued overexertion from Novak in the doubles. He went head to head with Kazakhstan, but when you face a pair of the level of Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic, the best in the world in this modality, the normal thing is that it comes out cross. That is what happened in a nefarious match of Filip Krajinovic and with a Djokovic blocked at a tactical level and overwhelmed by the display of rapport and wisdom on the court that the Croats showed. The final score was 7-5 6-1.

It was clear that a defeat for Lajovic in the first match of the tie could have dire consequences for the interests of the Balkans. Playing chestnuts against the best in the world in doubles was not a good business, and not even a legend like Novak could do the trick to beat them. From the opening bars of the first set the obvious superiority of the Croats could be appreciated; agile, with electric movements in the net, changing sides continuously and with a spectacular serve level. They permanently sought out Krajinovic, denied in all facets of the game, while Novak could not find a way to impose his backcourt authority and looked quite lost at the net.

Mektic and Pavic were very superior at all times

After exploring their options until the end of the first set, with more heart than tennis, they were shipwrecked in the eleventh game with Krajinovic on serve and paid dearly for the moral blow that caused that since the second set was a real disaster for the Serbs. Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic They flew down the track, showing the world that doubles can also be an art when played this well and qualifying Croatia for the grand final of the Davis Cup 2021. Deserved triumph and blow it for a Novak Djokovic that he will have to keep looking for opportunities in future events and trying to get one of his colleagues to respond, something that they have not done here.