Two decades after debuting for his country, Novak Djokovic remains the Serbian Davis Cup squad leader. Novak kicked off his 16th Davis Cup season on Saturday, competing in front of the home fans for the first time since 2017. Serbia is hosting Greece in the World Group 1 first round, with Miomir Kecmanovic and Djokovic sending their country 2-0 in front after the opening day. Stefanos Tsitsipas did not come to Belgrade, leaving his young compatriots to battle against the favorites. Kecmanovic took down Aristotelis Thanos in the first tie and delivered a 6-3, 6-3 win. The 24-time Major winner stepped on the court in the second tie, facing the 23-year-old Ioannis Xilas. Novak stormed over his lower-ranked opponent, beating him 6-0, 6-1 in 45 minutes in his 60th Davis Cup match. The legend served at 76% and dropped five points in his games, facing no break points and keeping the pressure on the Greek. Ioannis served at 77% but drew nothing from that.
Novak Djokovic, Davis Cup 2024Ā© Stream screenshot
Serbia is 2-0 up against Greece after the opening day.
Xilas dropped 24 of 35 points on his serve, allowing Djokovic to take the opening 11 games of the encounter before avoiding a double bagel. The Serb kicked off the action with a hold at love, firing a powerful serve and making a push on the return in the next one. Novak generated three break chances and converted the first after Ioannis’ double fault, moving 2-0 in front. The 24-time Major winner cemented the break with a fine hold in the third game and delivered another break a few minutes later following the rival’s mistake for a 4-0 lead. World no. 4. held at love in game five with a service winner, extending his streak and forcing his opponent to serve to stay in the set after only 13 minutes.
Novak Djokovic & Ioannis Xilas, Davis Cup 2024Ā© Stream screenshot
Djokovic created three set points in the sixth game, seizing the last with a forehand crosscourt winner and providing a bagel after 21 minutes. Novak held at love at the beginning of the second set and secured a break at 15 in the next one after Ioannis’ loose backhand. The Greek suffered another break in the fourth game following an error, propelling the Serb 6-0, 4-0 ahead. The legend painted a forehand winner in the fifth game, rattling off 11 games and forcing his opponent to serve to avoid a double bagel. Xilas grabbed three straight points in the sixth game, closing it with an ace and securing his first game of the match. Djokovic served for the win at 5-1 and sealed the deal with an ace down the T line, celebrating his 44th Davis Cup win and sending Serbia 2-0 in front after the opening day.