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Serbia Target Davis Cup Progress with Djokovic Boost

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after defeating Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the US Open tennis tournament men's singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 10, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after defeating Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the US Open tennis tournament men's singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 10, 2023. (AFP)
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Serbia Target Davis Cup Progress with Djokovic Boost

Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after defeating Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the US Open tennis tournament men's singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 10, 2023. (AFP)
Serbia's Novak Djokovic poses with the trophy after defeating Russia's Daniil Medvedev in the US Open tennis tournament men's singles final match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York on September 10, 2023. (AFP)

Novak Djokovic could return to action in the Davis Cup later this week after capturing his 24th Grand Slam title at the US Open and Serbia team mate Miomir Kecmanovic said on Monday the 36-year-old can give them a huge advantage.

Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev 6-3 7-6(5) 6-3 in New York on Sunday to lift his third Grand Slam title of the year and equal Margaret Court's record haul of 24 major singles titles.

The world number one is set to travel to Valencia and join the Serbia team for their Davis Cup Finals group stage ties with South Korea, Spain and Czech Republic, although he is likely to feature only in the final two clashes.

"We can't wait to have him for Friday," Kecmanovic told a news conference before their Group C opener against South Korea on Tuesday. "It definitely takes a little bit of the pressure off since he always carried the team so well.

"But our focus is to get through Tuesday, hopefully get the win and then start a little bit more relaxed on Friday."

Spain will be without Wimbledon champion Carlos Alcaraz when they take on Serbia on Friday, after the 20-year-old withdrew to recover following his US Open semi-final defeat by Medvedev.

"It was tough because Carlos is an important player, one of the best players in the world," Spain captain David Ferrer said. "But I trust my team. I'm very confident we can do a great week and can compete with everyone."

Sweden face Chile, France meet Switzerland and the Netherlands play Finland when the group stage kicks off on Tuesday across four cities - Bologna, Manchester, Valencia and Split.

The top two teams from each of the four groups will advance to the knockout rounds in Malaga, which take place from Nov. 21 to 26.

Defending champions Canada clinched their first title in the men's premier team event beating Australia in last year's final.

They are joined by the 12 winners of the 2023 qualifiers - Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Britain, South Korea, Netherlands, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States - apart from wild cards Italy and Spain.

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Fabregas Delighted as Como Live Up to Champions League Standard in Dream Debut

Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
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Fabregas Delighted as Como Live Up to Champions League Standard in Dream Debut

Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)
Como's Spanish coach Cesc Fabregas celebrates the victory of his team at the end of the UEFA Champions League, league phase, matchday 1, football match between Como 1907 and RB Leipzig at the Giuseppe Sinigaglia stadium in Como, on September 10, 2026. (Photo by PIERO CRUCIATTI / AFP)

Italian club Como pulled off a dream debut in the Champions League with a 4-1 win over RB Leipzig on Thursday, and manager Cesc Fabregas was happy to see his team live up to the ⁠standards of Europe's ⁠elite club competition.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder retired at Como in 2023 before joining ⁠their coaching staff and becoming manager.

"It was a historic evening for the club and the fans, who will still be talking about it in 10 years’ time," Fabregas told reporters, according to Reuters.

"That’s the beauty ⁠of ⁠football, I hope the fans enjoyed it as much as we did."

Como have seven points from their first three Serie A matches this season and host Parma on Monday.

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Gauff Sees Progress Despite US Open Exit

Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Gauff Sees Progress Despite US Open Exit

Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Coco Gauff of the USA reacts while in action against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

Coco Gauff's US Open title bid ended in disappointment on Thursday after a 3-6 6-4 6-4 loss to Elena Rybakina, but the American will leave New York convinced that the changes she has made to her game are beginning to pay off.

"I think I played almost every match on my terms," the 22-year-old told reporters. "I think the worst match for me was maybe the quarter-final where I maybe fell back into some old habits, but ⁠in 24 hours I ⁠was able to switch that.

"I'm just excited to keep putting in the work for another year, another two years, and see where I'm at 24, 25, and where my game can take me."

Rybakina, who will take over as world number one ⁠from Aryna Sabalenka on Monday, maintained constant pressure on Gauff and edged the key moments.

"I think she played really well. I thought it was a really good match, and honestly, it came down to a couple service games of mine in both sets, and I didn't quite hold," Reuters quoted Gauff as saying.

The American, who won the US Open title in 2023, has had a good run over the last few months, ⁠reaching ⁠her first Wimbledon semi-final, winning the Cincinnati title, getting to the last four in Toronto and making another deep run in New York.

"My dad came up to me and was like, you accomplished so many great things this summer, and I'm like, I don't care about the summer," she said.

"But, I mean, it's the goal. I want to be a consistent player. I want to give myself as many opportunities to lift a trophy. But, yeah, it hurts."

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Rybakina Not Putting Pressure on Herself Before Sabalenka Showdown

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
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Rybakina Not Putting Pressure on Herself Before Sabalenka Showdown

Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD
Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan reacts after defeating Coco Gauff of the USA during their Women's Singles Semifinals match of the US Open Tennis Championships at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, USA, 10 September 2026. EPA/BRIAN HIRSCHFELD

Elena Rybakina said she will not put extra pressure on herself before Saturday's US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka, with the second seed viewing the showdown as another chance to test herself against a rival who pushes her to the limit.

Rybakina rallied to beat Coco Gauff 3-6 6-4 6-4 in a thrilling semi-final on Thursday to earn a title clash with defending champion Sabalenka and take a step towards her third Grand Slam crown.

The pair have played two previous Grand Slam finals, with Belarusian Sabalenka defeating Rybakina in the 2023 Australian ⁠Open decider before ⁠the Kazakh levelled the score at Melbourne Park in January.

"It's an important match, and since it's a final, I feel like it doesn't matter who's on the other side," said Rybakina, who will take over as world number one from Sabalenka on Monday.

"I don't want to put too much ⁠pressure on myself, because we're very close in the rankings.

Even if something goes wrong in the final, I'll still have other opportunities and other tournaments until the end of the year.

"We push each other when we play these matches, and you can clearly see on what you need to work more. I think that's great that you play against someone who pushes you to the limit."

According to Reuters, Rybakina credited her team for helping her maintain her strong form this season after her ⁠Australian Open ⁠triumph.

"It definitely helps. There's been a lot going on in the previous year outside of the court," the 27-year-old said.

"I think now all of my focus is on tennis. I can't always perform at my best, there's always ups and downs, but I think we've been doing a very good job, right decisions in certain situations, because every day is a challenge.

"I'm not getting younger, and physically always some things come up. So just all things put together and also experience for the past years on tour have led to these kinds of results."