Djokovic confirms Saudi clash called off

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal’s controversial exhibition match in Saudi Arabia next month has been called off after the Spaniard underwent surgery.

Both players were heavily criticised for agreeing to the lucrative contest in light of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, with the exhibition announced less than a week after journalist Jamal Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul.

Talking about the event at last week’s Paris Masters, both men said they committed to it a year ago and needed more information before taking a final decision about whether to compete.

But Nadal’s ankle surgery earlier this week, which he had to remove a floating body in the joint after an abdominal injury ruled him out of the ATP Finals, means a politically-sensitive decision has been taken out of their hands.

At a press conference ahead of the tournament at London’s O2 Arena, Djokovic said: “It’s not happening.”

Asked if that was because of Nadal’s injury, Djokovic replied simply: “Yes.”

Djokovic arrived in London back on top of the rankings for the first time since October 2016 following remarkable upturn in form.

Ranked 22 in June after two years of struggles with form and fitness that eventually saw him undergo elbow surgery, the Serbian has lost only two of his last 33 matches.

He said: “I’m very proud of that achievement and I understand that it’s extra special this year because of the journey I’ve been through in the last 15 months, especially and particularly in the last eight to 10 months.”

Djokovic is looking to join Roger Federer as the most successful player in the history of the tournament by winning his sixth title and fifth at the O2.

The pair are the top two seeds in the absence of the injured Nadal, with Djokovic in Group Guga Kuerten along with Alexander Zverev, Marin Cilic and John Isner, while Federer is in Group Lleyton Hewitt alongside Kevin Anderson, Dominic Thiem and Kei Nishikori.

Federer opens his campaign tomorrow against Nishikori, with Djokovic taking on Isner on Monday.