Djokovic back in action for Serbia's Davis Cup tie vs. Canada

Four days after losing the U.S. Open final to Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic will take the court in Serbia for Davis Cup semifinal action against Canada. Djokovic is joined on the host nation’s squad by Janko Tipsarevic, Nenad Zimonjic, and Ilija Bozoljac.

Serbia is hosting Canada in the Davis Cup semifinals this weekend on the indoor clay court of the Belgrade Arena. Among those on board for the Serbs is U.S. Open runner-up Novak Djokovic, who lost to Rafael Nadal in a four-set final on Monday.

The team is similar to that of its quarterfinal win over the United States in Boise, Idaho. One change is Janko Tipsarevic in for Viktor Troicki. Tipsarevic was in a major slump this spring (and still is, to an extent), and now it’s Troicki who is suspended 18 months for skipping a scheduled drug test. The doubles rubber is once again expected to feature Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac, who took down Bob and Mike Bryan during the quarterfinal tie.

Canada will counter with Milos Raonic, Vasek Pospisil, Daniel Nestor, and Frank Dancevic. Pospisil is expected to pull double duty, while Dancevic is not currently in the starting lineup in any capacity. Nestor and Pospisil led the Bryan brothers by a set and a break at the U.S. Open before losing in three. The Canadians are coming off a home win over Italy in the quarterfinals. They upset a Nadal-less Spanish squad at home in the first round.

A Djokovic-Pospisil clash will kick off the proceedings on Friday, to be followed by Tipsarevic vs. Raonic. If rubbers four and five are necessary on Sunday, Djokovic would face Raonic before Tipsarevic and Pospisil would decide the tie.

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