Serbia vs Great Britain Betting Preview & Prediction | 2023 Davis Cup Finals | Quarter-Final
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THE FACTS
When is Serbia vs Great Britain on and what time does it start? Serbia vs Great Britain will take place on Thursday 23rd November, 2023 – not before 15:00 (UK)
Where is Serbia vs Great Britain taking place? Serbia vs Great Britain will take place at Martin Carpena Arena in Malaga, Spain
What surface is Serbia vs Great Britain being played on? Serbia vs Great Britain will take place on an indoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Serbia vs Great Britain? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Serbia vs Great Britain
Where can I watch Serbia vs Great Britain? All matches can be watched on Tennis Channel International’s Pay TV, while all Great Britain matches will be televised and streamed on BBC platforms
THE LOWDOWN
Serbia can count on world number one Novak Djokovic from the start this week in Malaga, after the 36-year-old played just one match in the group stages following victory at the US Open, and his presence makes them title contenders by default. Djokovic won a record-breaking seventh ATP Finals title on Sunday with two fearsome wins over Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, who had beaten the Serb in the group stages, and he has set out his stall by claiming that winning the Davis Cup Finals with Serbia this week would make 2023 his best season yet. World number 33 Laslo Djere enjoyed an excellent summer to make himself the clear choice as second option this week but Dusan Lajovic and Miomir Kecmanovic are both strong back-ups should they be required. Captain Viktor Troicki has elected to bring 20-year-old up-and-comer Hamad Medjedovic instead of doubles specialist Nikola Cacic, meaning Djokovic will likely partner up with Kecmanovic or Lajovic if required in a doubles decider.
This could be a proper thriller if both sides brings their best on Thursday but Great Britain have lost their talisman in Dan Evans, who suffered a heart-breaking calf injury two breaks up over Frances Tiafoe at the Vienna Open this time last month. Evans will likely turn up to play a significant role as cheerleader in Malaga but captain Leon Smith is fortunate to have enough fit singles players left to compete at all after Andy Murray was forced to pull out with a shoulder injury, leaving an out-of-form world number 18 Cam Norrie to draw the short straw against Novak Djokovic here. World number 60 Jack Draper has won four Challenger titles this season to build his fitness back up following injury issues last season and he recently finished runner-up to Adrian Mannarino at the Sofia Open to prove himself capable as GB’s second option this week. Leon Smith’s trump card looks to be the doubles partnership of Neal Skupski, who partnered Evans to a memorable victory over France to sneak through the group stages in September, and ATP Finals champion Joe Salisbury, who successfully defended his title alongside Rajeev Ram on Sunday in Turin.
THE PREDICTION
Cameron Norrie took Novak Djokovic to four sets in the semi-finals of Wimbledon last summer but the Brit has drifted surprisingly far from the player he was last season. With Djokovic almost certain to extend their head-to-head record to 4-0 in the middle match on Thursday, this tie rests squarely on the shoulders of 21-year-old rising star Jack Draper. If Draper can continue his excellent recent form indoors he has every chance of beating Laslo Djere in their first encounter, or indeed Dusan Lajovic or Miomir Kecmanovic, the latter of whom the Brit beat in straight sets at the Lyon Open back in May.
It seems likely, then, that a hopefully thrilling doubles decider is in the offing here. Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski have rarely produced their best tennis as a partnership for Great Britain but both have enjoyed their moments this season and they could prove top be unplayable if the two former number ones click. Taking on Novak Djokovic is a once in a lifetime opportunity for a doubles player and that should add an extra spark of motivation on this stage, as will fervent support from the sidelines. If Draper can win the opening match Team GB have a solid chance of the upset here but siding against Djokovic in either discipline, when he has stated his intent for the title this week, is a fool’s errand. Back Novak Djokovic to be the difference for Serbia.
BETTING TIP: SERBIA TO WIN
