Djokovic angry about being tested for doping before the match

Spain's Novak Djokovic was unhappy after being asked to take a drugs test just an hour and a half before his Davis Cup quarter-final clash with Cameron Norrie.

Djokovic said being asked to give urine and blood 90 minutes before a match was a first in his career. He and the members of the Serbian team refused the Davis Cup organizers' request.

"I told the organizers that I had never seen this before," Djokovic told the media. "He sat in a corner and watched me for hours. It was too much. I support doping tests, but not before the match. We don't hide anything, but there are limits to everything."

Djokovic in his victory over Norrie in Malaga, Spain on November 23. Photo: AP

When Djokovic said he wanted to postpone the drug test until after the match, organizers were worried that the match between Serbia and Great Britain would end late. "They said they wanted us to rest after the match, I said the winning team would rest the next day," Nole added.

The eight-team Davis Cup 2023 Finals gather in Malaga this week. Representatives of eight tennis federations were informed at a meeting earlier this week of irregular doping tests before or after matches. Pre-match doping tests are common at International Tennis Federation (ITF) events and are rare at ATP Tour or Grand Slam tournaments.

"I have my own routine and I don't want to be distracted," Djokovic said. "It's ridiculous to take blood or urine before the match. After the match, they can check me as long as they want."

In the Davis Cup quarterfinals, Serbia beat Great Britain 2-0 thanks to successful singles matches from Miomir Kecmanovic and Djokovic. Kecmanovic defeated Jack Draper 7-6, 7-6 to give Serbia a lead, before Djokovic defeated Norrie 6-4, 6-4 in the second singles match. Serbia will play Italy's Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals today, November 25. Djokovic met Sinner twice at the ATP Finals last week. Sinner won the group stage, but lost quickly to his senior in the final.

Djokovic helped Serbia win the Davis Cup for the first time in 2010. His last defeat in this arena was when he lost to Juan Martin del Potro in 2011. Djokovic has played 62 matches this season, winning 56 of them.

Vy Anh

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