Novak back in spotlight as legends team up for Federer’s grand farewell
NEARLY 10 weeks after winning Wimbledon Novak Djokovic finally resurfaced yesterday in a tennis environment, his Covid vaccination standoff with America now history.
The 35-year-old Serb will take his place in the Laver Cup which starts today and is still defiant about sitting out the whole of the US hard-court swing. Unwilling to compromise on his anti-vaccine stance, Djokovic also accepts that in his postSW19 absence a new young threat to him has properly emerged, in Flushing Meadows champion Carlos Alcaraz. ‘I don’t have any regrets,’ said Djokovic at the O2 Arena, sitting alongside his Team Europe colleagues. ‘I do feel sad I wasn’t able to play, but, you know, that was a decision that I made. I knew what the consequences will be, so I accepted them. That’s it. I congratulate Alcaraz for winning the US Open. He did it in an incredible fashion.’ Djokovic’s beliefs have ruled him out of two majors this year, leaving him one title behind the player sitting alongside him, Rafael Nadal. It is increasingly likely he will not have to forego another, with every indication being that Australia will rescind his ban on entering in January. Having learned from the clumsy social media announcement that presaged his ill-fated trip Down Under eight months ago, Djokovic was playing that one coyly. ‘I’m waiting for the news. It’s not in my hands. I’m hoping I can get positive news soon,’ he said. A highly excited crowd of more than 15,000 turned up to watch yesterday’s practice, which featured the perhaps never-tobe-repeated sight of Djokovic and Andy Murray playing practice doubles against Nadal and Roger Federer.
As expected, tonight will see the Swiss legend, 41, playing doubles alongside his oldest rival in his valedictory career appearance. Nadal only arrived yesterday as his wife is in the latter stages of what has been a difficult pregnancy.
He admitted history will weigh heavily when he steps on court. ‘It’s going to be difficult to handle everything, especially for Roger, without a doubt. For me too,’ said the Spaniard. Trying to perform better than they did in the 14-1 hammering they received at last year’s Laver Cup, the annually overwhelmed Team World will be going out to win. In the four previous editions of this event they have always come second. The ‘World’ will field Jack Sock — one of the world’s best doubles players — alongside Frances Tiafoe for the doubles, and Sock emphasised: ‘We will go out and enjoy the moment, but we are not going to hold anything back. Sorry, Roger.’ Andy Murray will play in the evening’s singles match against Australia’s Alex de Minaur. The
35-year-old Scot conceded all the talk of retirement has afforded him moments of selfreflection, especially in light of his immense injury struggles. ‘As you get older as athletes you do think about what if or when should you stop, when is the right moment and how would you like it to be,’ he said. ‘This, to me I think it feels right, seeing Roger and Rafa on the same side of the net together and finishing their careers as a team in this event with Bjorn (Borg, Europe captain) on the side of the court, John McEnroe there, Rod Laver in the stands. ‘It’s going to be a really cool way to end an incredible career. I don’t think there’s many better ways to go out.’
EMMA RADUCANU reached the quarter-finals of the Korea Open in Seoul with a 6-3, 7-5 victory over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer. Last year’s US Open champion faces Magda Linette
of Poland this morning.