Djokovic set for Australian Open? Novak commits to ATP Cup in Sydney

Djokovic
has
been
unwilling
to
confirm
his
place
at
January’s
Australia
Open
due
to
the
COVID-19
mandate
in
Victoria.

The
state
of
Victoria,
where
the
year’s
opening
grand
slam
takes
place
at
Melbourne
Park,
has
introduced
a
vaccine
mandate
for
professional
athletes
and
across
most
industries
due
to
the
coronavirus
pandemic.

Djokovic’s
father,
Srdjan,
said
the
nine-time
Australian
Open
champion
is
unlikely
to
feature
in
Melbourne
unless
vaccination
rules
are
relaxed.

But
in
a
boost
for
the
slam’s
organisers,
Djokovic
was
named
in
top-seeded
Serbia’s
team
for
the
third
edition
of
the
ATP
Cup,
which
will
take
place
in
Sydney
from
January
1-9.

“We’re
excited
to
host
the
third
edition
of
the
ATP
Cup
in
Sydney
in
2022,”
said
ATP
Cup
tournament
director
Tom
Larner.

“The
playing
group
enjoy
representing
their
countries
and
to
see
18
of
the
world’s
Top
20
players
commit
to
the
event
is
testament
to
that.

“The
event
shows
off
the
passion
the
playing
group
have
for
this
format
and
we
look
forward
to
welcoming
all
16
teams
to
Sydney
later
this
month.”

The
2021
Australian
Open
went
ahead,
albeit
in
February
instead
of
January,
and
without
fans
for
most
of
the
tournament
following
a
snap
lockdown
of
Melbourne
due
to
COVID-19.

Djokovic
–
winner
of
a
joint-record
20
grand
slam
titles
–
was
among
the
players
critical
of
the
conditions
athletes
endured
prior
to
this
year’s
Australian
Open,
with
strict
quarantine
measures
introduced.