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Djokovic lambasts state of court ahead of Davis Cup tie

djodjodjo.jpg
Novak Djokovic of Serbia poses in the locker room with the Norman Brookes Challenge Cup after defeating Andy Murray of Britain in their men's singles final match at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, January 27, 2013. REUTERS/Fiona Hamilton/Tennis Australia/Handout


CHARLEROI, Belgium, Jan 31 (Reuters) - World number one Novak Djokovic is angry at the state of the court that will be used for this week's Davis Cup first-round tie between Serbia and Belgium.

Djokovic and the rest of his Serbian team are unhappy that a clay surface has been laid on top of a parquet floor.

"This is definitely the worst court we have ever played on," he told a news conference on Thursday. "We're all putting our health at stake here.

"How is it possible that a clay court can be solid and can be a successful, playable court if it's built on parquet? We tried to slide a few times ... but our feet stayed under ground."

Djokovic, back in the team for the first time since September 2011, also said he was still feeling jetlagged after beating Britain's Andy Murray at the Australian Open final on Sunday.

"I am not fully recovered and I'm doing my best in order to prepare myself for tomorrow," he said.


Serbia are without injured world number nine Janko Tipsarevic but are still favourites to progress against Belgium who are led by world number 50 David Goffin and 127th-ranked Olivier Rochus.

The other singles player for the Serbs is world number 39 Viktor Troicki. (Reporting by Abigail Spudich, writing by Philip Blenkinsop, editing by Tony Jimenez)






























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