Without him, the burden falls on Kecmanovic and Medjedovic, the two players who have already carried the team whenever the top player was unavailable. Milic and Djuric are younger, still working their way up the ATP rankings, but both already have experience playing for the national team.
When and against whom
The tie will be played at the Cair Sports Hall in Nis on September 19 and 20, as part of World Group 1, on the road to qualifying for the 2027 Davis Cup Final 8. The draw is scheduled for noon on September 18, also in Nis.
On the first day, Saturday September 19, two singles matches are on the schedule, first board against first board, then second against second, starting at 2pm. Sunday, September 20, brings doubles and two more singles matches, first the top boards, then the second boards, all starting from 1pm.
Lithuania is led by captain Laurinas Grigelis, who is relying on Vilijus Gaubas, world number 121 in singles, Edas Butvilas at 195th, Justas Trainauskas and Pijus Vaitikunas, both outside the top 1,500, and Todas Babelis, 803rd in doubles. On paper Serbia, even without Djokovic, is the favorite, but paper rarely means much in the Davis Cup when the match is played on home soil in front of a full arena.