Djokovic may be missing in action for the United Cup, but he's on track for a Melbourne Park comeback. How will fans react to him?
There was a famous photo before last year’s delayed Tokyo Olympics in which Novak Djokovic poses with a group of Belgian gymnasts. He’s stretched out on a yoga mat, holding an elongated pose doing the splits. Nadia Comaneci felt compelled to thumb social media congratulations to him on his form, and many wondered if he’d ever had the urge to dump cross-court passes for the pommel horse.
Rafael Nadal roamed a cavernous Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday. Petra Kvitova is in town. World No.1 Iga Swiatek is in Brisbane; Greece’s cult hero Stefanos Tsitsipas in Perth. Nick Kyrgios was supposed to play untilwas announced on Wednesday, minutes before he was due to front a press conference with Australian teammates, including those who plough away without him in the Davis Cup.
When the entries needed to be taken for the United Cup in October, Djokovic still hadn’t had government approval to return to Australia. It meant tournament officials couldn’t offer Djokovic, and by extension his country Serbia, an immediate spot in the 18-team event.Some of the world’s highest-ranked men and women were offered the chance to spearhead the United Cup. For example, Nadal said yes, and Spain were given a spot with a captain of his choosing. Swiatek was in, and so Poland were.
Djokovic has usually been that in Australia. The country, and the rest of the world, has largely moved beyond vaccine mandates. But it doesn’t mean last year’s Djokovic saga won’t loom over the next few weeks.
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