INNSBRUCK/STARNBERG, November 30, 2021

Following an exciting Group Stage at the Davis Cup by Rakuten Finals with a win against Austria and a defeat to Germany, Team Serbia finished Group F in second place and left Innsbruck to play their quarterfinals tie against Kazakhstan on Wednesday in Madrid.

Novak Djokovic was very enthusiastic about his stay in Tyrol, especially about the beautiful nature and the accommodation at the Interalpen Tyrol Hotel, situated on the Seefeld High Plateau.

“I grew up in the Serbian mountains and I really enjoy spending time in the nature and the mountains. Next to tennis, skiing is one of my great passions,” the 34-year-old revealed.

To Djokovic’s surprise, the World No. 1 received special gifts from the Tyrol Tourist Board and SPURart, an Austrian sporting brand that builds customized skis and snowboards. The presents included a pair of skis with a tennis racquet printed on top as well as a one-week skiing holiday including ski pass in the Innsbruck region for him and his family. Djokovic was also offered to spend a day of skiing together with former Olympic champion Benjamin Raich.

“That’s something I definitely won’t be leaving out. I talked to him a little yesterday and we arranged that, hopefully when I’m around,” Djokovic said, per Heute.

#Djokovic received a gift in Innsbuck after his match. Appropriate, given that he grew up on a mountain and loves skiing. pic.twitter.com/4eRtFnp1H1

— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) November 26, 2021

With the German words: “Jetzt geht’s los und jetzt haben wir viel Spaß“ (Let’s go and now we have a lot of fun”), Djokovic right away tried on his new skis in the press center of the Olympia World Innsbruck. However, he still has to wait a little longer before he can really test them on the slopes, although snow conditions are ideal at the moment.

Serbia is still in the hunt for a second Davis Cup crown after 2010.