Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxingSign up to our free sport email for all the latest news<\/p>\n
Novak Djokovic told rowdy British fans to \u201cshut up\u201d after leading Serbia to a 2-0 victory in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga.<\/p>\n
The world number one showed his annoyance with a section of the 5,000-strong British support by cupping his ear and blowing ironic kisses at the end of the first set of his 6-4 6-4 victory over Cameron Norrie.<\/p>\n
When the same group of fans began drumming during Djokovic\u2019s on-court interview, the Serbian responded: \u201cLearn how to respect players, learn how to behave yourself,\u201d before adding, \u201cno, you shut up, you be quiet\u201d.<\/p>\n
It was a sour end to what was a disappointing evening for Britain, with the writing on the wall once Jack Draper fell to a 7-6 (2) 7-6 (6) defeat by Miomir Kecmanovic in a opening rubber that was a must-win.<\/p>\n
On his spat with the supporters, Djokovic said: \u201cIn the Davis Cup, it\u2019s normal that sometimes fans step over the line but, in the heat of the moment, you react too, and you show that you don\u2019t allow this kind of behaviour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey can do whatever they want, but I\u2019m going to respond to that. I was trying to talk and they were purposely starting to play the drums so that I don\u2019t talk and they were trying to annoy me the entire match. So we had a little bit of a chat in the end.\u201d<\/p>\n
Britain captain Leon Smith refused to criticise his side\u2019s backers, saying: \u201cThat\u2019s one of the things that\u2019s good about Davis Cup and the team competition that actually you\u2019re kind of meant to make noise.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether there is a bit that goes over, comments, I could hear a couple \u2013 I don\u2019t think it\u2019s that bad. I would hate to see it quietening down, because there\u2019s enough quiet tennis as it is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Britain\u2019s dramatic success against France in Manchester in September had sent them through to the final eight event for the first time in the revamped format.<\/p>\n
The tie did not get under way until 6.10pm, more than two hours later than billed, because of the over-running first match of the day between Italy and the Netherlands.<\/p>\n
The near-capacity crowd, which also included a sizeable number of Serbian supporters, gave the event the sort of authentic Davis Cup feel that has so often been missing since the switch from the home-and-away format.<\/p>\n
Among those sat in the stands at the Palacio de Deportes Martin Carpena was Dan Evans, who had hoped to build on his brilliant performances in Manchester before a calf injury prematurely ended his season.<\/p>\n
But even the British number two would have had his work cut out against an inspired Kecmanovic, who was chosen ahead of the higher-ranked Laslo Djere and fully justified the decision.<\/p>\n
Draper had the better form coming in having reached his first ATP Tour final this month and had beaten Kecmanovic \u2013 ranked five places higher at 55 \u2013 earlier this year, but the Serbian was dominant on serve and edged two tie-breaks.<\/p>\n
It was only 21-year-old Draper\u2019s second Davis Cup rubber and he admitted knowing Djokovic was looming added to the nerves he felt.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s seemingly a must-win match for me,\u201d said Draper. \u201cIt\u2019s definitely a tough challenge to go out there knowing that there is a lot more pressure on me to win the match.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the kind of pressure that, if I want to be a top player, I have to cope with and have to perform under. It\u2019s tough not to get the win today. I gave it all I had mentally. I didn\u2019t do a few things as well as I wanted to, but he played a great match.\u201d<\/p>\n
Djokovic had lost only six of his 61 previous matches this season, with just one defeat since the Wimbledon final, while his Davis Cup record is utterly formidable.<\/p>\n
It is 12 years since he lost a singles match in the competition, and even that was by retirement, with now 21 straight wins and only four sets dropped.<\/p>\n
Norrie had managed only a single set in three previous meetings and has endured a miserable run since the clay-court swing back in the spring, but he was captain Leon Smith\u2019s only option once Andy Murray pulled out with a minor shoulder injury.<\/p>\n
He did not put in a bad performance by any means, but was fire-fighting from the moment he was broken at 2-2 in the opening set and won only eight points on Djokovic\u2019s serve during the contest.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just trying to go in and challenge him,\u201d said Norrie. \u201cI was kind of proud of how I competed, but it was still tough to lose that one. But I could see him hurting a little bit down at the other end, so that was good and a good test for my game.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Serbia are a step closer to the trophy, Britain must start again in February in the qualifiers \u2013 barring an unlikely wild card through to September\u2019s group stage.<\/p>\n
Smith added: \u201cIt\u2019s disappointing. It feels like a lot of prep for one day of matches. We\u2019ve lost in the quarter-finals here, but we\u2019ve won four, lost one this year. It\u2019s a good record. It\u2019s a good year.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxingSign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Novak Djokovic told rowdy British fans to \u201cshut up\u201d after leading Serbia to a 2-0 victory in the Davis Cup quarter-finals in Malaga. The world number […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[173],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2660","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n