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The United Cup Tennis is currently being played in Australia. This is a tournament for mixed national teams in which Serbia and Novak Djokovic also take part. The world number one in the ATP rankings showed at the press conference after the game against China that he cannot assert himself on the field alone.
Eighteen countries are fighting for the title in the United Cup. Perth and Sydney will each host three groups from three countries each. The group winners and best runners-up from each city advance to the quarterfinals. Each meet includes a men’s singles, a women’s singles and a mixed doubles. The United States won the first edition in early 2023.
Novak Djokovic’s Serbia face China and the Czech Republic in Group E in Perth. On Sunday, the Serbs defeated the Chinese 2-1 in the decisive doubles match.
At the subsequent press conference, a Chinese journalist wanted to test Djokovic’s language talent. “You know you have a big fan base in China. But today you beat us, so maybe your Chinese fans are a little upset now. “How about we make them happy again by saying ‘Happy New Year’ in Chinese?” was the pertinent question. After the Chinese journalist set the example, Djokovic quickly copied her and continued smoothly in Chinese. To the surprise of his own Serbian teammates.
Djokovic felt comfortable because he even interrupted his Chinese colleagues’ press moment with a Chinese interlude…
The next round is a fact
Today/Tuesday the Serbs continued their winning streak. Djokovic, 36, set the tone this morning by defeating Jiri Lehecka in three sets in singles: 1-6, 7-6 and 1-6. He then skipped the mixed doubles because he had problems with his right wrist. Olga Danilovic and Hamad Medkedovic defeated Czechs Miriam Kolodziejová/Roman Jebavý 4:6, 7:6 (7/2), 10:8, giving their country a 2-1 victory. Danilovic had previously lost the women’s singles 1:6, 6:3, 3:6 against Marketa Vondrousova.
Djokovic isn’t too worried about his injury. “I don’t think it’s serious,” he admitted afterwards. “During the warm-up I started having problems but I managed to finish the game. This kind of thing happens a lot.”
Serbia will face hosts Australia in the quarterfinals.
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