Viktor Troicki made a risky decision. With Laslo Djere, 33rd, and Dusan Lajovic, 46th, more qualified in the ranking, he opted for Miomir Kecmanovic, 55th, to open the tie against Great Britain. It was easier for Leon Smith, the British captain, who, in the absence of Daniel Evans, who was injured, made the only possible choice, which was none other than Jack Draper.. If all the points have enormous importance with the new format of the Davis Cup, this one turned out to be crucial, given the presence of Novak Djokovic against Cameron Norrie in the second match.
Kecmanovic responded to his captain's confidence and made use of his greater stability to win 7-6 (2) and 7-6 (6). Serbia's number two made the most of his second match point against a brave and talented opponent, but vulnerable in short distances, where his opponent's good distribution of the ball led him.. Kecmanovic has among his baggage having taken Carlos Alcaraz to the limit in the Miami quarterfinals in 2022. It was no small feat in the midst of the Spaniard's explosion, who ended up winning his first Masters 1000 there.. Alcaraz recognized that his opponent had deserved the victory in a very tough match resolved in the tiebreaker of the third set. The 24-year-old Serbian pointed out then, but he has not yet managed to translate his qualities into good results.
Draper has a capital weapon on this type of surface. Consummate server, he pulled it out of a dangerous setback. He was 4-3 and 15-40 down in the first set when he left a poisoned second serve to the T and an ace to maintain balance. The resources of the British left-hander do not stop there, as two games later he saved his first set point with a backhand drop shot. Paradoxically, two double faults would penalize him to lose the first of his tiebreakers.
He resisted afterwards, but without threatening his opponent's serve once in the entire match. Brought to the same destination, he sinned again through incompetence. Kecmanovic's tempered hand put Serbia on the road to the semi-final against Jannik Sinner's Italy.