Djokovic wins over Davidovich and condemns the decapitalized Spain

The host and organizing team of the Davis Cup Finals will not be in Malaga from November 21. Novak Djokovic handed down the final sentence with his victory against Alejandro Davidovich by 6-3 and 6-4, in one hour and 48 minutes, and gave victory to Serbia against Spain in the second round of this first group stage that was played in the unbreathable atmosphere of the La Fonteta stadium, under extremely high conditions of heat and humidity. Before, Laslo Djere, Balkan number two, had defeated Albert Ramos-Viñolas by a double 6-4. After the defeat in the first series, against Chequia, the team that captains David Ferrer falls automatically eliminated. Nikola Cacic and Miomir Kecmanovic beat Marcel Granollers and Davidovich 6-4 and 7-6 (13), and left the locals with six defeats in as many games. Serbs and Czechs, already with two wins each, continue ahead in group C. Spain-South Korea on Sunday will be purely testimonial.

The Spain, six-time Davis Cup champion, the Spain of Rafael Nadal, one of the best tennis players ever, and of Carlos Alcaraz, who is on his way to making history in this sport, derailed in Valencia. Without any of them, the first due to injury, the second due to fatigue accumulated on the North American tour, without Roberto Bautista or Pablo Carreño, the former bourgeoisie of our tennis, also with physical problems, with training almost in the bones, the David Ferrer's debut as captain was disappointing.

Little to object to the coach, at the head of an undercapitalized group, unimaginable when he took over from Sergi Bruguera at the beginning of the year. Something more to the players, with enough rank to have carried out the dispute with the Czechs, crucial for the outcome of this Group C.

triumphant streak

Djokovic had an intimidating streak of 12 consecutive victories, after becoming champion at the Cincinnati Masters 1000 and the United States Open. His last defeat came against Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final. Even more so on his side: he had accumulated 19 consecutive victories in the Davis Cup, dating back to his last setback in the 2011 semifinals against Argentina, when, even with the old competition format, he lost to Juan Martín del Potro.

If we add to this that Nole had won four of his five matches against Davidovich, without giving up a set in those played indoors and the most recent being in Ohio, where the Malaga native retired due to injury after losing the first set, the vote of the host, last train in the remote options of Spain, brought them to him.

Djokovic put everything in the seventh game, which lasted until he converted the second breaking ball. Until then, Davidovich held on, with a good approach, attacking every ball that came within range.. But the Serbian reads the games like few others. Bridging the gaps, which are many, due to the stage, the situation and the rival, he handled himself with the skill demonstrated in the eternal second set of the United States Open against Daniil Medvedev.

Lukewarm reaction

Davidovich had the pleasure of being ahead in the second, 4-1, but, far from knowing how to manage his advantage, he was swallowed up by his own mistakes and by the surge of his opponent, who had five consecutive games to put an end to any doubt.

In the first match, a Djere with a better competitive rhythm, who had lost his last match against Ramos, in this same competition, last year, marked differences with the service. His high percentage of success allowed him to navigate comfortably and make a good break in the fifth game. The Serbian only lost one point on his serve in the first set.

Apart from his victory against Soon Woo Kwon in Tuesday's match against South Korea, the latest news from Djere referred to the third round of the United States Open, where he forced his compatriot Novak Djokovic to overcome two adverse sets. Finalist at the beginning of the summer in Gstaad, Ramos, 95th, 35 years old, four ATP 250 titles, had his best season in 2017, when he jumped to 17th place in the ranking and played his only Masters 1000 final against Rafael Nadal in Monte Carlo. The Barcelona native was not part of Ferrer's initial plans. He joined the team to replace Alcaraz.

The Spaniard would hold up better in the second set, when he managed to open the court with his left-handed serve and dominate the points.. But his opponent, 37th, a player who has a hard time recovering the ball but moves well with the initiative, had his chance again in the seventh game.. Ramos saved his first attempt with a great serve, but not the next one, which left him in a desperate situation. There his options ended and Spain's declining path towards emptiness continued.