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December 30, 2021

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Djokovic withdraws from ATP Cup

Source: Agencies | 00:00 UTC+8 December 30, 2021 | Print Edition

Novak Djokovic has pulled out of this week’s ATP Cup in Sydney, organizers said yesterday, heightening doubts over whether he will defend his Australian Open title.

There has been intense speculation as to whether he will travel to Australia, having refused to confirm if he has been inoculated against the coronavirus.

“World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2022 ATP Cup,” organizers said in a statement ahead of Saturday’s start to the team tournament.

“Team Serbia will now be led by world No. 33 Dusan Lajovic.”

Djokovic, the nine-time Australian Open champion, could win a record 21st Grand Slam title if he plays at Melbourne Park next month, but to enter Australia he and members of his entourage have to be vaccinated.

He has previously expressed his opposition to the vaccine and his father Srdjan said in late November that Djokovic would probably not play the first Grand Slam of the year, accusing the organizers of “blackmail.”

Djokovic has been named in the entry list for the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, but he could yet withdraw. He was also originally on the entry list for the ATP Cup.

Tennis Australia has organized charter flights to bring international stars into Melbourne and Sydney.

Defending women’s Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was among those to touch down on Tuesday, but Djokovic was not on board. Players can also opt to fly commercial.

The ATP Cup has been hit by several withdrawals — either because of COVID-19 or injury — and as a result France will replace Austria in Group B after Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak pulled out, organizers said yesterday.

Team Russia’s Andrey Rublev, who has COVID, Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy have also withdrawn, the ATP Cup said, as has the USA’s Austin Krajicek.

COVID-19 looks set to cast a dark shadow over the Australian Open and the raft of tournaments in the country beforehand.

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal, who was due to play a warm-up event in Melbourne next week, was among several players to have contracted the virus at an Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament this month. His Abu Dhabi opponent, Wimbledon semifinalist Denis Shapovalov, also later tested positive.

Three female players at the same event tested positive as well — Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarterfinalist Ons Jabeur.

Earlier yesterday, Nick Kyrgios urged Nadal and Djokovic to play at the Australian Open, saying it would be a “disaster” if the ‘Big Three’ were missing.

Swiss ace Roger Federer has already pulled out as he recovers from a knee injury and Nadal’s plans are unclear.

The dominant ‘Big Three’ have won 20 Grand Slam titles each and Kyrgios said tennis still needs them, starting in Melbourne next month.

“I honestly don’t know Novak’s current situation with anything COVID-related or what he needs to play,” the colorful Kyrgios told the Melbourne Age newspaper.

“I hope he’s had a good Christmas and I hope he’s able to play in the sport for as long as possible because I’ve voiced before I think Federer, Nadal and Djokovic need to be (playing). If all three aren’t there, it’s a disaster.”

The Australian Open has been hit by a series of injury pullouts, with major winners Serena Williams, Bianca Andreescu, Stan Wawrinka and Thiem all missing out.

Kyrgios, a crowd favorite at Melbourne Park, has not played since late September due to knee problems, slipping to 93rd in the rankings, which ruled him out of contention for the Australian team for the ATP Cup in Sydney.

The 26-year-old will begin his 2022 season at an ATP 250 event in Melbourne next week and was yesterday handed a wildcard for the Sydney Tennis Classic the following week.

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