The organizers stated in a statement ahead of the tournament’s start on Saturday that “Team Serbia will now be captained by world No. 33 Dusan Lajovic, who has withdrew from the 2022 ATP Cup,” they stated in a statement.
Because Djokovic, 34, has declined to clarify whether he has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, there has been a lot of conjecture about whether he would come to Australia.
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If he plays at Melbourne Park next month, the nine-time Australian Open winner may win a record 21st Grand Slam championship, but he and members of his entourage must be vaccinated to enter Australia.
He has already stated his aversion to the vaccination, and his father, Srdjan, stated in late November that Djokovic would most likely not participate in the year’s first Grand Slam, accusing the organizers of “blackmail.”
Tennis Australia has organised charter flights to bring international stars into Melbourne and Sydney for warm-up tournaments.
Defending women’s Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka was among those to touch down on Tuesday, but Djokovic was not on board. Players can also opt to fly commercial.The Australian Open is due to start on January 17.