Novak Djokovic to win a second Davis Cup title in his career had to run aground in the last four in the 2021 season.
In the semifinals of the 2021 Davis Cup Finals, Serbia had to lose to their neighbors Croatia, but the world number 1 insists he has no regrets.
The 20-year-old Grand Slam title and compatriot Filip Krajinovic lost in straight sets to Wimbledon and Tokyo Olympic champions Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the decisive doubles match.
Croatia, who won the 2005 and 2018 Davis Cup seasons, will then face Russia or Germany in the final of the Davis Cup Finals.
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The 34-year-old earlier beat Croatian Marin Cilic for the 18th time so Serbia still has hope of progressing to the final.
The world number 1, who is unbeaten in Davis Cup singles since the 2011 season, beat Cilic 6-4, 6-2, the Serb’s 19th straight Davis Cup singles victory.
“My 2021 season ended after the match against Croatia and I have no regrets,” admitted Novak Djokovic, indicating fatigue at the end of a rollercoaster-like 2021 season.
“I’m going to take the next few days to rest, recuperate and forget about tennis.”
However, the 34-year-old refused to discuss whether he would defend his Australian Open title next month after the Grand Slam organizers insisted that all players should be fully vaccinated. He refused to say whether he had been vaccinated or not.
Serbia’s defeat in the Davis Cup Finals means the world number 1 concludes the 2021 season after failing to become the first male player to win all four Grand Slam titles in a single season in the last 50 seasons when he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final.
The 34-year-old’s hopes of winning an Olympic singles gold were also dashed in Tokyo after losing to champion Alexander Zverev in the semifinals.
However, Djokovic still finished the season on a positive note after he finally matched Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal’s record of 20 Grand Slam titles. In addition, he is also the world number 1 at the end of the season for the seventh time, and on Monday (6/12) he will occupy the world number 1 for the 350th week.
