The no World tennis leader Novak Djokovic, who refuses to say whether or not he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, will not play the ATP Cup, organizers announced on Wednesday, which heightens uncertainty over his participation at the Australian Open.
“The world number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the ATP Cup 2022. The Serbia team will now be led by the 33e world player, 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. The tournament will be held from 1er to January 9 in Sydney. Djokovic, 34, still leaves doubts about his presence in Melbourne from January 17 to 30 for the Australian Open, 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 the first tennis player to win 21 Grand Slam titles if he wins in Melbourne, breaking the record he co-holds with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
To be allowed to enter Australia and participate in the tournament, players, their entourage and members of their team must be vaccinated, unless they have an exemption. However, 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 overseas 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 taking a commercial flight.
Djokovic is not the only player not to participate in the ATP Cup, due to COVID-19 or injuries. France will therefore replace Austria in Group B after the withdrawal of Dominic Thiem and Dennis Novak, organizers announced on Wednesday.
The players of the Russian team Andrey Rublev, who contracted the coronavirus, Aslan Karatsev and Evgeny Donskoy have also withdrawn, as the American Austin Krajicek, still according to the organization.
The shadow of COVID hangs over the Australian Open and the tournaments leading up to it.
The presence of world star Rafael Nadal also remains uncertain, as he tested positive for COVID on his return from an exhibition tournament held in Abu Dhabi in December.
His opponent in this tournament, the Canadian 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, US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarter-finalist Ons Jabeur.
Earlier Wednesday, Australian player Nick Kyrgios urged Nadal and Djokovic to compete at 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-long hiatus due to a double right knee intervention.