Tennis star Novak Djokovic will join world number one Ash Barty at the Adelaide International
Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic has nominated to play at Adelaide’s International tennis event in January, joining Ash Barty as a major drawcard for the tournament.
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It wasn’t completely “out of the blue’’, but Novak Djokovic’s decision to play the Adelaide International still came as a surprise to tournament director Alistair MacDonald.
The 16-time grand slam champion, and current world number two, put his name on the preliminary list of entries for the newly-revamped tournament - which closed on midnight ahead of a full field announcement on Wednesday.
It all but guarantees that Djokovic will headline the January seven-day tournament, which will be played under the newly-constructed $10 million canopy above the tennis centre at Memorial Drive.
The 32-year-old Serb has opened his year at the Qatar Open in recent years and because of this, while Adelaide International organisers approached Djokovic to come to South Australia they were still surprised to see his name as part of the preliminary entries on Monday morning.
“We talk to everyone, so it isn’t like this was out of the blue,” MacDonald said.
“But... if you look at everybody’s history, this a change in tact.
“We have worked really hard with his team, he’s entered so to me that says it’s a scheduling choice, so we are really thrilled.”
Djokovic has committed to represent Serbia in the inaugural ATP Cup - a teams-based event to be held from January 3 to 12 in Brisbane, Perth and Sydney.
He is now set to come to the Memorial Drive Tennis Centre for the Adelaide International ATP 250, from January 12 to 18, before he tries to defend his Australian Open crown.
A win in Adelaide could also regain Djokovic the world number one ranking from Rafael Nadal.
Organisers will get the final list of entries on Tuesday, and will then try and make sure Djokovic’s “schedules marry up” to confirm his presence in Adelaide.
But MacDonald said “I think the fact he’s been here before is fortuitous”.
“We are really excited that he’s corresponded with us and we are working really hard with his team to make Adelaide a part of his summer of tennis and his preparation for the Australian Open,” MacDonald said.
“He is excited to use Adelaide as part of his platform, he has a huge and fantastic track record at the Australian Open and the fact that he wants to make us part of his preparation with the ATP Cup as well is fantastic for Adelaide.”
Djokovic last played in Adelaide in 2007 at the Next Generation Adelaide International, which was succeeded by the Brisbane International.
Novak Djokovic has entered to play the @AdelaideTennis starting January 12 at Memorial Drive. Great news for the event. Barty, Halep, Kvitova, Kerber plus more are also set to play the event. Upgrade at the Drive is complete & world class tournament tennis is back in Adelaide.
— Darren Cahill (@darren_cahill) December 1, 2019
He defeated Australian Chris Guccione 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 in the final and 12 months later he won his first-ever grand slam tournament in Melbourne, which has been followed by 15 more.
This has put his name well and truly in the conversation for the best of all time, but MacDonald believed Djokovic coming to Adelaide was the second biggest coup in SA’s tennis history.
“I would put it second behind Ash Barty, I think she is a pretty good coup, she has had a pretty good year (becoming world No. 1),” he said.
“I don’t want to degrade it, but she was a pretty big coup.”
It comes as up and coming Russian Andrey Rublev and American Taylor Fritz committed to the event, joining Australian number one Alex de Minaur and teenager Felix Agur-Aliassime.
Veteran Spaniard Fernando Verdasco will also play while former world number 10 Lucas Pouille has also entered.
Joining Barty will be Wimbledon champion Simona Halep, two-time grand slam champion Petra Kvitova and three-time grand slam winner and former world number one Angelique Kerber.
MacDonald said this would give the Adelaide International great depth.
“The likelihood is particular on the women’s side is you are going to have top 10 players on courts two and three,” he said.