Davis Cup coach slams federation

(GETTY IMAGES)

Serbia's tennis federation (TSS) deserves no credit for the national team's maiden Davis Cup win and needs "a thorough reconstruction", the father of world No 3 Novak Djokovic has said.

"The present TSS leadership, headed by Slobodan Zivojinovic, has nothing to do with victory; we are the world tennis champions thanks to the players and their families only," Srdjan Djokovic said in a statement to Serbian media. "I have no ambition to take over from Zivojinovic but the TSS needs a thorough reconstruction."

The Davis Cup coach Bogdan Obradovic echoed his remarks, saying the TSS gave little support to the players who beat France 3-2 in the Belgrade final last weekend.

"Both the players and I support changes," Obradovic said. "We need better facilities and I can assure you that staff changes will be made.

"The players have received slim financial support from the TSS all these years while we achieved an incredible result by winning the Davis Cup in our first final.

"Investments have to be at least partially proportional to our results."

Zivojinovic, whose four-year mandate as TSS president expires this month, said in his own statement that he would run again.

"After what we have achieved this year, it is only natural I will run for another four-year mandate so we can complete the tasks ahead, namely building a national tennis centre and facilities for young talents," he said."I have a realistic programme for the next four-year period, devoid of unrealistic promises which can't be kept."