Tennis: Djokovic’s mystery deepens as stars arrive before Australian Open – Omni Sports – Sports

Novak Djokovic played in last year’s ATP Cup but is participating in this year’s tournament. AFP

There have been serious doubts about whether men’s world number one Djokovic would travel to Australia because he refused to confirm whether he had been vaccinated against the coronavirus.

An unnamed member of his team told Serbian newspaper Blic that they were “99 percent” confident he would not play in the ATP Cup, which comes ahead of the Australian Open, adding to the intrigue of whether Djokovic will take part in the first Grand Slam. year.

But Tennis Australia told AFP that Serbi had not yet withdrawn from a team event scheduled to start on Saturday in Sydney with Djokovic to play with Norwegian Casper Ruud on opening day.

“We have not heard of Serbia’s withdrawal due to the ATP Cup,” the spokesman said.

Tennis Australia has run charter flights to bring international stars to Melbourne and Sydney, with the first arriving on Tuesday.

Osaka, who defended the Australian Open, was one of the touchers, but Djokovic was not involved, TA said. Players can also fly ads.

Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic could win a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title if he plays in Melbourne Park, but to get into Australia he and his entourage must be vaccinated.

The 34-year-old has previously expressed opposition to the vaccine, and his father, Srdjan, said in late November that Djokovic was unlikely to play in the Australian Open, accusing organizers of “blackmail.”

Several Covid-positive players have already ran into the ATP Cup, including Russia’s fifth on the world list, Andrey Rublev, and Canada’s Wimbledon semi-finalist Denis Shapovalov.

Spanish superstar Rafael Nadal, who was scheduled to play in a warm-up event in Melbourne next week, also got the virus. They all played in the Abu Dhabi trade show tournament this month.

Three female players in the same event also gave a positive test – Olympic gold medalist Belinda Bencic, US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Wimbledon quarterfinals Ons Jabeur.

Tennis Australia has arranged charter flights to help minimize the risk of getting the virus en route, and all passengers must prove a negative test within 72 hours before the flight.

The Australian Open is scheduled to begin on January 17th.

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