Djokovic gets record win as Serbia advances at Davis Cup
MALAGA, Spain — Novak Djokovic became the outright most successful Serbian player in the history of the Davis Cup as he took his nation to the semifinals for the second time in three years with his 21st straight singles victory.
The top-ranked Djokovic beat Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 to give Serbia a 2-0 victory over Great Britain and set up a last-four encounter with Jannik Sinner’s Italy on Saturday in the top team event in men’s tennis.
“Playing for your country is always the greatest pressure and motivation,” Djokovic said. “After a long season, we can feel it in the legs. Now we play Italy. They are a very strong nation. We are going to fight and leave it all out on the court.”
It was a record 44th Davis Cup match win overall for Djokovic, moving him one ahead of Nenad Zimonjic.
The Italians beat the Netherlands 2-1 in the other quarterfinal match on Thursday to reach the semifinals for the second straight season. Sinner kept Italy alive by winning his singles match and he then successfully teamed up with Lorenzo Sonego in the doubles.
Djokovic, who now has a 44-14 Davis Cup record, appeared annoyed by the behavior of the nearly 5,000 British fans. After the match, he told them to “shut up” and “be quiet” as they began drumming during his on-court interview.
“Learn how to respect players, learn how to behave yourself,” he said.
In the first singles match, Miomir Kecmanovic beat Jack Draper 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6).
GOLF
Lawrence up by 3 at Johannesburg
South African golfer Thriston Lawrence began his bid for a second title at the Joburg Open by shooting 8under 62 on to lead by three shots after the first round of the seasonopening event on the European tour at Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lawrence, who won the Joburg Open by four strokes in 2021 and has captured three more titles since, birdied five of his first six holes to quickly tie for first place with clubhouse leader and compatriot Nikhol Rama (65), a player ranked No. 1,214.
Lawrence added more birdies at Nos. 13 and 14 in a bogey-free round at Houghton Golf Club.
Defending champion Dan Bradbury shot 66 and was in a 10-way tie for third place.
Moscatel leads Australian PGA Championship: Joel Moscatel shot a course record 63 to the lead the Australian PGA Championship at Brisbane.
Moscatel is one shot ahead of Min Woo Lee.
NHL Hall likely out for rest of the season
Chicago Blackhawks forward Taylor Hall will have right knee surgery, likely sidelining the 2018 NHL MVP for the rest of the season.
The team placed Hall and forward Andreas Athanasiou (groin) on injured reserve. Forwards Joey Anderson and Cole Guttman were recalled from Rockford of the American Hockey League.