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Davis Cup Finals 2023: Great Britain face Serbia in Malaga

Schedule for the 2023 Davis Cup Final Eight

Great Britain’s bid for Davis Cup glory continues against a Serbia team led by Novak Djokovic, who says lifting the trophy is “important” for his nation.

Without injured pair Dan Evans and Andy Murray, Great Britain face Serbia in the quarter-finals on Thursday.

The tie in Malaga, Spain will be shown live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app from 15:00 GMT.

“I really would like to win the Davis Cup with Serbia. That’s a goal,” Djokovic, 36, said.

Britain, who last won the trophy in 2015, reached the Davis Cup knockout stages with a thrilling victory over France in September.

Known as the ‘Final Eight’, the knockout phase starts on Tuesday when defending champions Canada face Finland.

Australia, who were runners-up last year, take on the Czech Republic on Wednesday, while Italy and the Netherlands play on Thursday.

The semi-finals will be played on Friday and Saturday, before the champions of the 123-year-old men’s team event are decided in Sunday’s showpiece.

The winners of the first two quarter-finals play in the last four on Friday, with the victors of the final two meeting on Saturday

Britain’s doubles depth needed after injury blows

Great Britain initially named the same five-man squad which reached the knockout stage, but have since lost Evans – who was instrumental in their progress from the group stage – and former world number one Murray to injury.

That leaves, barring any more unexpected injury concerns, a straightforward team selection for GB captain Leon Smith.

In a best-of-three tie consisting of two singles matches and a potentially deciding doubles, rising star Jack Draper is likely to start against Laslo Djere before Cameron Norrie – the British number one – faces Djokovic.

If the matches are split, doubles specialists Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury will aim to put Britain into the semi-finals.

Skupski, who won the Wimbledon men’s doubles title this year, has forged a fruitful partnership with Evans for Great Britain, including winning a tense group-stage decider against France that secured the nation’s place in Malaga.

With Evans ruled out by a calf injury, Salisbury was called up as a replacement and comes into the event having retained the doubles title at the ATP Finals in Turin on Sunday.

Dominant Djokovic targets another trophy

Novak Djokovic celebrates for Serbia at the Davis Cup
Djokovic has won 39 of his 46 singles matches in the Davis Cup, but has a 4-7 record in the doubles

Despite being in the twilight of his career, Djokovic’s powers are showing little sign of diminishing and he goes…

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