Novak Djokovic affirmed for ATP Cup in Sydney, coordinators say

Coordinators of the ATP Cup – to be held in Sydney toward the beginning of January – say world No.1 Novak Djokovic has focused on the men’s teams event. Novak Djokovic was named in the Serbian team for the men’s season-opening ATP Cup in January in Sydney, albeit the world number one was at this point to focus on the Australian Open after the organizers’ mandate for COVID-19 vaccinations.

Affirmation that Novak Djokovic, who might be pursuing a tenth Australian Open at Melbourne Park in January, will be in Sydney is the strongest sign that the Serbian champion will take his spot in the field in Melbourne for the first major of 2022.

Djokovic has more than once declined to uncover whether he has been vaccinated against COVID-19, with Australian Open coordinators Tennis Australia affirming that all players would need to be vaccinated to contend in Melbourne.

All players heading Down Under for the Australian Open should be vaccinated. Djokovic has previously would not reveal his vaccination status.

The 16 teams for the ATP Cup, an event run by Tennis Australia and the ATP, were affirmed at the competition launch in Sydney.

An article on the official ATP Tour site announced the following:

“Top seed Serbia, headlined by world No.1 Novak Djokovic, will lead Group A, which will also feature Norway, Chile, and Spain. Two years ago, Serbia lifted the trophy at the inaugural ATP Cup by defeating Spain in the championship match.”

To play without being vaccinated in Sydney, the NSW government would need to apply for an exemption for Novak Djokovic to enter the country and the 34-year-old would need to go through 14 days’ quarantine upon arrival.

That equivalent option was additionally open to the Australian Open coordinators, however, the Victorian government has repeatedly said it would not apply for exemptions.

In a new interview, Australian Open boss Craig Tiley seemed to rule out any prospect that unvaccinated tennis stars could enter Australia, saying that “certified proof of vaccination” would be required.

“When the Premier [Daniel Andrews] announced that anyone coming into Victoria and playing at Melbourne Park would need to be vaccinated, that included the fans as well as the staff, and also the players,” Tiley told Channel Nine.

“There was probably only 50 percent of the players at that point who were vaccinated. That has accelerated …. we’ll get close to 90 percent and there’s still a little bit of time to go before that date at the end of December when everyone arrives.

“Everyone knows they need to be vaccinated seven days before they arrive in Australia.

“Novak has made it clear that his status is private and personal to him, and he’s completely entitled to that position. However, to come into Australia there will need to be certified proof of vaccination that gets cleared by the medical officials here, and that will be the same for everyone, everyone coming in.”

While Novak Djokovic’s name is the most significant among the list of committed players, world No.6 Rafael Nadal is missing from team Spain.

Nadal, a winner of 20 grand slam titles close by Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer, will get back to competition play at an exhibition event in Abu Dhabi this month is as yet expected to go to Melbourne for the Australian Open, beginning on January 17.

Australia’s team includes the country’s No.1 singles player Alex de Minaur, James Duckworth, and doubles expert John Peers.