The 20-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic casts doubts on whether he is going to defend his ATP Cup title next month. He is named in the Serbia team on Tuesday for the ATP Cup in Sydney in January. Had speculation about whether he would travel to Australia because of vaccination rules.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion had cast doubt on whether he will defend his Australian Open title next month. He refused to reveal whether he was inoculated against coronavirus.
Djokovic contracted Covid-19 during the ill-fated Adria Tour event he organized in the Balkans in June 2020 but said he did not suffer from any symptoms. Organizers of the Australian Open are insisting only fully-vaccinated players will allow into the country. His father last month suggest his son “probably won’t” play.
Rafael Nadal was missing. The Spanish fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner last month suggested he would play an exhibition in Abu Dhabi this month. He will also play another tournament before arriving in Melbourne for the Australian Open.
The only other absent top 20 players for the 16-team ATP Cup was great Roger Federer. The 34-year-old ended his rollercoaster season with a Davis Cup defeat last week. Had also promised to make a decision on his Australian Open participation.
Match fixtures:
Djokovic’s Serbia won the inaugural event in 2020, overpowering the Nadal-led Spain. The 16 teams in next year’s event from January 1-9, are divided into four groups of four. They are playing across two Sydney venues – the Ken Rosewall Arena and Qudos Bank Arena. Each tie comprises two singles matches and one double’s.
Top seeds Serbia are grouped with Spain, Norway, and Chile. While Russia will face Italy, Austria, and home nation Australia.
Russia is the defending ATP Cup champions. As their team spearheaded by Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev swept past a Matteo Berrettini-led Italy in the final.
