Novak Djokovic has reportedly pulled out of the ATP Cup, according to Jelena Medic of Serbian newspaper Blic.
Djokovic’s saga with Australia and their vaccination rules has been going on for a while now. The World No. 1 hasn’t been vaccinated yet, or even if he has, the medical information isn’t available to the authorities.
This will-he-won’t-he situation has been on for a few weeks. Both parties refused to back down from their respective stances, but it seems like the player has ultimately done so.
According to reports, Djokovic has pulled out of the ATP Cup, meaning the 21st Grand slam and a 10th title Down Under will have to wait.
“It is 99 percent sure that Novak won’t go to the ATP Cup,” a member of his team was reported as saying, as quoted by tennis.com.
“He is training here (in Belgrade), but he has decided to give that tournament a miss.”
Per @jjmedic89, Novak Djokovic is not playing in the ATP Cup.
— Saša Ozmo (@ozmo_sasa) December 25, 2021
“Novak is not going to ATP Cup. He is practicing, but he’s decided to skip that competition”, said source close to Djokovic.
No exceptions
Tournament director Craig Tiley remained firm on his stance regarding Djokovic, and said that he can play only if he is vaccinated.
“If Novak shows up at the Australian Open, he’ll either be vaccinated or he’ll have a medical exemption,” he said.
“It’s his choice on his medical condition, it’s his choice to keep personal and private like all of us would do with any condition we may or may not have.
“We are not going to force him or ask him to disclose that. It’s going to be extremely difficult for a tennis player in 2022 to travel around the world and not have, in each country, separately an exemption or be vaccinated.
“But that’s ultimately up to them. But I’m not going to ask Novak that, it’s none of my business,” he concluded.
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