Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic team says he won’t play Sydney lead-up tournament

Novak Djokovic’s team is adamant the superstar Serbian will miss an important Australian Open pre-tournament, it has been reported, as the vaccination saga shows no signs of abating.

Novak's mother Dijana, Novak Djokovic, Novak's brother Djordje, Novak's father Srdjan and Novak's wife Jelena.

Novak Djokovic will not play in the ATP Cup ahead of the Australian Open, where his participation is in doubt because he refuses to say if he has been vaccinated against Covid-19, his team have told Serbian newspaper Blic.

“It is 99 per cent sure that Novak won’t go to the ATP Cup. He is training here (in Belgrade) but he has decided to give that tournament a miss,” an unnamed member of his team said.

The ATP Cup in Sydney is a team tournament that traditionally kicks off the men’s season.

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World No. 1 Djokovic could win a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, but to enter Australia he and members of his entourage will have to be vaccinated and the 34-year-old has previously expressed his opposition to the vaccine.

His father Srdjan said in late November that Djokovic would probably not play the Australian Open and accused the organisers of “blackmail”.

Novak Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, is level on 20 Grand Slam singles triumphs with old rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

‘Nobody will impose on him’: Djoker dad’s Aus Open threat

Novak Djokovic’s father has again raised the likelihood that his world No. 1 son will boycott the Australian Open unless he is allowed entry regardless of his vaccination status.

Djokovic is a nine-times Australian Open winner who could become the outright greatest men’s grand slam winner of all time if he comes to Melbourne as he is currently tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal with 20 grand slam titles each.

But his anti-vax stance has caused much debate in the sporting community with the latest regulations demanding all tennis players are double vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to play in Melbourne or receive a medical clearance.

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But in a TV interview in Serbia with K1 Televizija, Djokovic’s father Srdjan Djokovic has indicated his son will not be forced into anything and it’s up to authorities to either let him play in Melbourne or he simply won’t come.

“They have to decide whether they will let Novak in,” he reportedly said.

“If they decide (to not let him), they have the stand behind their decision.

“He has won the Australian Open nine times, he now wants to play — but they have to permit him to play.

“Novak will do what he thinks is the best for him, nobody will impose an opinion on him.

“What to do if he ends up not going (to play the Australian Open)? We will wait for Roland Garros and his (21st) grand slam title.

Novak's mother Dijana, Novak Djokovic, Novak's brother Djordje, Novak's father Srdjan and Novak's wife Jelena.

Novak Djokovic’s family Srdjan (father), Dijana (mother) and brothers Marko and Djordje support him at the Australian Open in 2008.

“He will win a few more grand slam titles until he retires. I think four or five (more titles).

“He will win at least twice in Wimbledon and some other slams for sure.

“Do you doubt that? You don’t need to be an expert, but Novak will play for another two to three years and this will be enough.”

Djokovic is due to start his Australian Open campaign with the ATP Cup in Sydney starting on January 1.

Originally published as Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic team says he won’t play Sydney lead-up tournament