Novak Djokovic is unlikely to miss the upcoming Australian Open because ‘he loves the sport too much,’ according to one of his former coaches.
Boris Becker believes the world No.1 won’t want to miss out on an opportunity to break the all-time record for most major singles titles won by a male player at Melbourne Park. Uncertainty has been cast over Djokovic’s appearance at the tournament due to its strict entry requirements. Last Friday Tennis Australia confirmed that all participants must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in line with a government health mandate in the region.
Djokovic has repeatedly refused to speak publicly about his vaccination status which has fuelled speculation about if he will travel to Australia. When questioned about his plans for next year at the ATP Finals, the Serbian replied ‘we’ll have to wait and see’ without elaborating any further.
However, Becker says the tennis star will have to follow the rules and believes he will do so. Becker is a seven-time Grand Slam champion himself who mentored Djokovic between 2014-2016.
“I can’t imagine that he won’t play in Australia,” he told Eurosport Germany’s podcast, Das Gelbe vom Ball.
“He loves the sport too much for that, he loves tennis history too much for that. He wants to reach the 21 Grand Slam wins. Australia is his best Grand Slam. He has already won nine times there. Why shouldn’t he win a 10th time?
“He says it is his personal decision whether to get vaccinated or not. It is nobody’s business. I’m with him on that.
But if he wants to play on the tennis tour – and we’re also having this discussion about [Bayern Munich footballer] Joshua Kimmich – then you just have to follow the rules. That means you have to be vaccinated in order to play.
“That applies to Djokovic, that applies to Kimmich and that applies to every athlete who is at home in their respective sport.”
Djokovic has won the past three editions of the Australian Open with his win-loss record currently standing at 82-8. He has won the men’s title more times than any other player in history and it was in Melbourne where he won his maiden Grand Slam back in 2008.
Sharing a somewhat different view on Djokovic’s potential appearance in Australia next year, former world No.1 Mats Wilander said he ‘wouldn’t be surprised at all’ if he didn’t go. The Swedish tennis great told Eurosport that whilst the tournament is Djokovic’s most successful, he cast doubt on if it is the most important to him when compared to other major events.
“Is the Australian Open the most important tournament in his career? Well, it is the most successful Grand Slam for him. I’m not sure if it is more important than the French Open or Wimbledon or the US Open, but it is his most successful Slam,” said Wilander.
“It would be the most natural place for him to break the tie of 20 Grand Slams with Roger and Rafa. But at the same time, Novak Djokovic, I think, is thinking about his own health.
He’s thinking about the future. He’s thinking long-term, and so I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Novak doesn’t go.”
Djokovic is currently in Austria for the group stages of the Davis Cup Finals. It is unclear as to when he will make a final decision on his plans for the new season. Should he be vaccinated, he will have to board a charter flight between December 27 and January 3 and provide a negative Covid-19 test upon arrival in Australia.
