Tennis-Djokovic named in the Serbian team for the 2022 ATP Cup in Sydney

FILE PHOTO: Tennis – ATP Finals – Pala Alpitour, Turin, Italy – November 20, 2021 Novak Djokovic of Serbia after losing his semi-final to Alexander Zverev REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane of Germany

December 7, 2021

SYDNEY (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic has been named in the Serbian team for the opening ATP Cup of the season in January in Sydney, although the world number one is yet to attend the Australian Open after being asked by organizers get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Djokovic, who has won a record nine titles at Melbourne Park, including the most recent three, has repeatedly refused to disclose whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19 to the organisers. Australian Open Tennis Australia confirms that all players will need to be vaccinated to compete. Melbourne.

To play unvaccinated in Sydney, the capital of New South Wales, the state government will have to apply for an exemption for Djokovic and the 34-year-old will have to undergo 14 days of quarantine upon arrival.

That same option is open to Australian Open organizers but the government in Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, has said it will not apply the exemption.

The draw for the third ATP Cup Team Championships was held in Sydney on Tuesday and organizers say top seed Serbia, led by Djokovic, will be in Group A alongside Norway, Chile and Spain.

While Djokovic’s participation will be a huge boost for Serbia and the tournament, Rafa Nadal will not feature in Spain.

The 20-time major champion struggled with back problems in early 2021 before withdrawing from Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics because of a leg problem.

The 35-year-old Spaniard, who last played in August at the Citi Open, is aiming to make a comeback at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi this month before playing another tournament in the process. for the Australian Open.

The 2022 ATP Cup will feature 16 teams and be held at two venues at Sydney Olympic Park from January 1-9 with players vying for $10 million in prize money.

Defending champion Russia, led by world number two and US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, is grouped with this year’s finalists Italy, Austria and hosts Australia, who will not had Nick Kyrgios score on their team.

The winning team from each of the four groups will advance to the semi-finals.

Group A – Serbia, Norway, Chile, Spain

Group B – Russia, Italy, Austria, Australia

Group C – Germany, Canada, UK, USA

Group D – Greece, Poland, Argentina, Georgia

(Reporting by Sudipto Ganguly in Mumbai and Nick Mulvenney; editing by Peter Rutherford)