SYDNEY – World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who refuses to say whether or not he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, will not play the ATP Cup from January 1-9 in Sydney, organizers said on Wednesday, reinforcing the uncertainty about the participation of the Serbian in the Australian Open.
“World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP 2022 Cup. The Serbian squad will now be led by world 33rd Dusan Lajovic,” the organizers said in a statement.
The ATP Cup, a nation-wide event organized by the ATP, marks the start of the new season on the men’s circuit. Djokovic, 34, still leaves doubts about his presence in Melbourne from January 17 to 30, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, which he has won nine times, including the last three editions.
Winner of three of the four Majors last season, Djokovic would become in the event of victory in Melbourne the first tennis player to conquer 21 Grand Slam titles, thus breaking the record which he co-holds with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
To be allowed to enter Australia and take part in the tournament, players, their entourage and members of their coaching staff must be vaccinated, unless they have a waiver. But Djokovic refuses to say whether he is vaccinated or not.
His father Srdjan had declared at the end of November on Serbian television that Djokovic would “probably not” go to the Australian Open, denouncing a “blackmail” of the organizers.
The Australian Tennis Federation has set up charter flights to allow international players to travel to Melbourne and Sydney to participate in the preparatory tournaments.
Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka of Japan was among those who landed on Tuesday. Djokovic was not on board.
The shadow of COVID
Players also had the option of choosing to travel on a commercial flight.
Djokovic is not the only player not to participate in the ATP Cup, due to COVID-19 or as a result of injuries. France will therefore replace Austria in Group B after the withdrawal of Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak, organizers announced on Wednesday.
Russia team players Andrey Rublev, who contracted the coronavirus, Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy have also withdrawn, as has American Austin Krajicek, the ATP Cup reported.
The shadow of COVID hangs over the Australian Open and the tournaments that must go ahead.
The presence of world tennis star Rafael Nadal also remains uncertain after he tested positive for COVID upon his return from an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament in December.
His opponent in this tournament, Denis Shapovalov, semi-finalist at Wimbledon, also tested positive afterwards.
Three players participating in the same event also tested positive: Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, United States Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ons Jabeur.
Earlier Wednesday, Australian player Nick Kyrgios urged Nadal and Djokovic to compete in the Australian Open, saying it would be a “disaster” if the “big three” were absent.
Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer has already announced his absence from the Australian Open after a year of hiatus due to a double intervention to the right knee.
