ATP Cup: Novak Djokovic fires Serbia into semi-finals after wild Canada tie
World No.1 Novak Djokovic sparked soccer-style scenes after overcoming big-serving Canadian Denis Shapovalov in a three-set epic to secure Serbia’s place in the ATP Cup semi-finals. WATCH THE WILD SCENES.
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Novak Djokovic has battled past Denis Shapovalov in an emotion-charged encounter to book Serbia’s place in the ATP Cup semi-finals.
Playing his first match in Sydney in a decade, Djokovic sparked soccer-style scenes from the over-excited crowd before eking out a tense 4-6 6-1 7-6 (7-4) comeback win on Friday.
The world No.2’s stirring win followed Dusan Lajovic’s 6-4 6-2 rout of Felix Auger-Aliassime and propelled Serbia into a semi-final on Saturday against Russia.
But it was anything but routine for Djokovic amid wild scenes inside Ken Rosewall Arena.
Tensions boiled over midway through the second set when Shapovalov received a code violation for allegedly telling a Serbian heckler to “f*** you”. Chair umpire Carlos Bernardes called Canadian captain Adriano Fuorivia over to order him to calm Shapovalov down as he struggled to control the boisterous, mostly pro-Serbian crowd.
#ATPCup sure is the becoming The Unhappy Slam. pic.twitter.com/99V91hqzfA
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) January 10, 2020
After dropping six straight games to concede the second set, Shapovalov did well to regain his composure and pile the pressure on Djokovic in the decider. Feeling the heat, Djokovic remonstrated with Bernardes after receiving a warning himself for an audible obscenity in the sixth game of the set.
The 🇨🇦 #TeamCanada captain is summoned to the chair to discuss the warning 🇨🇦 #TeamCanada received the previous game.#ATPCup | #Final8 | #SRBCAN pic.twitter.com/qOpEAa7XeE
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 10, 2020
Shapo wants to hear it from 🇨🇦 🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia fans.
— ATPCup (@ATPCup) January 10, 2020
🇷🇸 #TeamSerbia leads 4-1 second set.#ATPCup | #Final8 | #SRBCAN pic.twitter.com/qujss48zRq
Despite the umpire demanding unruly fans behave or go home, Djokovic further fuelled emotions when he urged the crowd to fire up even more after he held for 3-3.
He then sent Serbian supporters into a frenzy when he broke Shapovalov three games later, only to drop serve while serving for the match after a spectator fell ill and briefly delayed proceedings.
Djokovic offered the female fan a bottle of water but it was the Canadian who needed cooling down after becoming enraged once again by spectators interrupting his serve during the third-set tiebreaker.
Novak Djokovic gives bottle of water to the person in the crowd that's feeling bad. Yep, that's Novak who you criticise so much.
— Novak The Champ🆠(@SanjaSkipy) January 10, 2020
Vanquished but gracious, Shapovalov warmly embraced Djokovic at the net after finally succumbing after two hours and 40 gripping minutes.
“Brisbane had some amazing support but this was a different level,” Djokovic said before thanking his legion of Serbian fans in his native tongue. In a rare double treat for Sydney fans, world No.1 Rafael Nadal will be in action on Friday night when he leads Spain into quarter-final battle with Belgium.
A tasty semi-final encounter with Australia on Saturday night looms large for Spain if the Davis Cup champions can continue on their merry way. Nadal will be a warm favourite to down David Goffin in their top-seed encounter while Roberto Bautista Agut will be just as short odds against Steve Darcis.