September 16, 2011 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg
World number one-ranked and 2011 U.S. Open Men’s Singles champion Novak Djokovic has announced that he is pulling out of the Davis Cup, citing back pain as the reason. Prior to the start of the U.S. Open, Djokovic was forced out of action in the finals of the Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio, retiring against Andy Murray to give Murray the championship. On Monday in Flushing Meadows, N.Y., Djokovic experienced pain and called for the trainer during his four-hour-plus match in the U.S. Open finals against Spain’s Rafael Nadal.
Viktor Troicki, currently ranked 16th in the world, will take Djokovic’s position on the Serbian Davis Cup team. Djokovic has also dropped out of the opening match at the semifinals last year against the Czech Republic needing rest after the 2010 U.S. Open.
Today’s singles match at the Davis Cup includes Janko Tipsarevic for Serbia facing Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro at Belgrade Stadium in Serbia.
