• Davis Cup

Exhausted Djokovic ready for Czech challenge

Novak Djokovic was a beaten finalist at Flushing Meadows © Getty Images

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Novak Djokovic is determined not to let fatigue get in the way when Serbia take on Czech Republic for a place in the Davis Cup final.

Less than four days after losing to Rafael Nadal in the US Open final, Djokovic is back in his native Belgrade as Serbia look to seal their place in the final for the first time.

But while the man he beat in the semi-finals, Roger Federer, has opted to miss Switzerland's clash against Kazakhstan, Djokovic is raring to go.

"I am exhausted because it's not the easiest thing in the world to recover from playing the entire US Open and travelling back east but I have to adjust as quickly as I can," Djokovic said.

"We can't wait for the tie to begin and I am sure I will be able to beat the fatigue because our motivation and desire to reach the final are huge. It's a historic match for us and the occasion will force us to dig deep into our resources."

The world No. 2 is first on court on Friday, where he will meet Radek Stepanek in the opening singles rubber, before taking on world No. 7 Tomas Berdych on Sunday, while Janko Tipsarevic has been handed the remaining singles duty ahead of Viktor Troicki.

A win for Serbia would see them reach their first final after three years in the top tier of the competition, and they would face either France or Argentina in the final.

France memorably thrashed holders Spain in the quarter-finals and team captain Guy Forget has opted to keep faith in Gael Monfils and Michael Llodra, leaving world No. 29 Richard Gasquet out of the team.

Llodra, ranked one place below Gasquet, will take on Juan Monaco in the first rubber, with Monfils facing David Nalbandian later on Friday. While Argentina are without the injured Juan Martin del Potro, France are unable to call upon the services of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Julien Benneteau.

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