Novak Djokovic "Trying" To Get To Australian Open, Say Teammates
Novak Djokovic could in any case play at the Australian Open, a Serbian colleague said Thursday, notwithstanding the world number one's latest possible moment choice to pull out of the ATP Cup in Sydney. The 20-time Grand Slam champion pulled out from the current week's groups occasion days before its beginning on Saturday, increasing questions about whether he will guard his Australian Open title. Djokovic has wouldn't affirm assuming that he has been immunized against Covid-19, with all members at the initial Grand Slam of the year waiting be inoculated or have a clinical exception.
Dusan Lajovic, who will lead Serbia's ATP Cup drive in Djokovic's nonattendance, said his colleague needed to be in Sydney.
"Tragically he's not ready to come here, however, you know, he was I think trusting, same as we did, that in some way he will be here. Tragically he's not, and we must arrangement with it," he said.
"I don't have the foggiest idea about the authority reason. Perhaps the ATP knows. He recently said that he's not coming to the ATP and attempting to get to the Australian Open."
Gone ahead whether Djokovic would be at Melbourne Park, Lajovic said: "I mean, the choice, he said, 'I'm not coming, folks,' to the ATP Cup. We'll see about the Australian Open.
"He didn't indicate assuming he's coming or not however that he's hanging tight for a choice."
It isn't clear what that choice is, yet if he somehow managed to apply for a clinical exception it would be evaluated by an autonomous board of specialists and stay classified.
Nonetheless, government authorities in Victoria state, which has the Australian Open, have been unyielding for a really long time that main inoculated players can play the competition from January 17-30.
"They're the guidelines. Clinical exclusions are only that - - it's anything but an escape clause for advantaged tennis players," the state's Deputy Premier James Merlino said for the current month.
'It's his decision'
World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas, who will open Greece's ATP Cup against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz on Saturday, said he regarded whatever choice Djokovic made.
"Assuming that he believes he's not prepared to play here for reasons unknown, it's his decision. I think most about the players regard his decision. He has the opportunity to pick," he said.
Found out if he felt the guidelines to play the Australian Open were excessively intense, he answered: "The standards are rules, and the principles are set up for a specific reason and reason.
"So assuming that a few players choose not to follow them, it's their decision. I wouldn't agree it's set in stone here."
Led by Djokovic, Serbia won the debut ATP Cup in 2020, beating Rafael Nadal's Spain. Nadal is another flake-out in Sydney this year in the wake of contracting Covid-19 recently.
Lajovic conceded Serbia's errand will be a lot harder without Djokovic when they open their mission against Norway on Saturday.
"You know, it's never a similar when you have the main in your group and afterward you don't have him. It's a major distinction," he said.
In Nadal's nonattendance, Spain are driven by world number 19 Roberto Bautista Agut.
They additionally open their competition on Saturday, against Chile.
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Reigning champs Russia, drove by Daniil Medvedev, play France on Sunday.
(This story has not been altered by NDTV staff and is auto-created from a partnered feed.)
