Djokovic sets up mouth-watering Sinner clash in Davis Cup semifinals

MALAGA, Spain: Novak Djokovic steered Serbia into the Davis Cup semifinals as he beat Cameron Norrie 6-4, 6-4 to secure a 2-0 triumph over Great Britain on Thursday, setting up a mouth-watering clash with Italy’s Jannik Sinner.

Italy defeated the Netherlands 2-1 and will face Serbia in the second semifinal on Saturday in Malaga, after last year’s runners-up Australia face Finland Friday.

World No. 1 Djokovic played with his typical relentless quality and then rebuked British fans at the end of the match as they tried to drown out his victory speech with drums.

After Miomir Kecmanovic edged Jack Draper 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6) in the opening singles rubber, 24-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic outclassed the resilient Norrie.

Djokovic, who beat Sinner to win the ATP Finals on Sunday in Turin before flying to the Costa del Sol, celebrated his landmark 400th week at No. 1 with a straight sets win — before the captains agreed not to play the redundant doubles rubber.

Around 5,000 British fans outnumbered the Serbs at the sold out Martin Carpena arena but the relentless Djokovic silenced them with his 21st consecutive Davis Cup singles victory.

“Learn how to respect people, learn how to respect players, learn how to behave yourselves,” Djokovic told a group of fans with a drum after, who he said had disrespected him the whole game.

“The entire match pretty much, there was disrespect but it’s something I have to be prepared for in the Davis Cup,” Djokovic told reporters.

“It’s normal that fans step over the line and in the heat of the moment you react too and in a way show that you don’t allow this kind of behavior.”

Djokovic’s tennis did the talking as usual on the court, breaking to lead 3-2 in the first set and serving