Djokovic to lead Serbia against Sweden in Davis Cup

LONDON,(Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic will get straight back into action on Friday when he leads defending champions Serbia in their Davis Cup quarter-final in Sweden.

The 24-year-old new world number one will take on 355th-ranked Ervin Eleskovic in the second singles rubber in Halmstad after Viktor Troicki plays Michael Ryderstedt.

With Sweden missing their top player Robin Soderling, Serbia are clear favorities to reach the semi-finals but Djokovic resisted the temptation to rest.

“Davis Cup is always important,” Djokovic told the official Davis Cup website on Thursday.

 “Me being here proves enough how I value this competition and how much I like playing for my country.”

Djokovic, who beat Rafa Nadal on Sunday to win his first Wimbledon title, has suffered just one loss in 49 matches in 2011, an astonishing run that began after he helped Serbia win the Davis Cup final for the first time at the end of 2010.

The Belgrade native points to that victory over France in his home city as the spark that took his game to a new level.

“After the Davis Cup win I was full of life, full of energy, eager to come back to the tennis court and win some other tournaments. I lost my fear,” Djokovic said last week. The winners of the tie face a likely semi-final with Argentina who moved into a 2-0 lead against Kazakhstan on Thursday.