Internet Desk: Serbian tennis sensation Novak Djokovic and Australia’s Nick Kyrgios think the wounds of their Australian Open early exit, might get healed by the Davis Cup when they feature in the tournament. Among the top 15 ATP players, these two will only play the Davis Cup.
Andy Murray has decided not to play for Britain during their trans-Atlantic tour to Ottwa, on the hand Canada will miss the service of their best player Milos Raonic in their World Group opener.
Currently crowned Australian Open champion Roger Federer and his compatriot Stan Wawrinka will not feature the Switzerland side in the United States.
Rafael Nadal, the runner-up to Federer in Melbourne, will sit out Spain’s match in Croatia, who will be missing Marin Cilic, while Japan and France meet in Tokyo with Kei Nishikori, Gael Monfils and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on the sidelines.
Tomas Berdych is out of the Czech Republic team to face Australia in Melbourne while David Goffin skips Belgium’s short hop to Germany.
Just as worryingly for the 117-year-old tournament is Juan Martin del Potro sitting out defending champions Argentina’s home tie against Italy.
Despite seeing all of his Grand Slam rivals take a breather, world number two Djokovic — stunned in the second round in Melbourne by unheralded Denis Istomin for his earliest exit at a major in nine years — is relishing leading 2010 champions Serbia against Russia in Nis.
“I am overjoyed to be back amongst these guys as we are all close friends and it’s a very special atmosphere every time we get together,” 29-year-old Djokovic told daviscup.com.
“But Russia are a young team and we can’t underestimate them.”
Russia, who won the last of their two titles in 2006, will be led by world number 52 Karen Khachnov.
A win for Serbia will set-up a quarter-final against either five-time winners Spain or 2005 champions Croatia who meet in Osijek.
In the absence of Nadal, Spain will be led by 16th-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta, the world 26.
Croatia, however, have to rely on Franko Skugor and Nikola Mektic, ranked at 223 and 319 respectively, neither of whom have ever won a Davis Cup singles tie.