Novak Djokovic withdraws from Serbia’s Davis Cup Team following injury at Australian Open

The 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic has opted out of Serbia’s Davis Cup team after sustaining a muscular injury in his left thigh during the Australian Open. Djokovic withdrew mid-semifinal against Alexander Zverev after losing the first set.

This is undoubtedly a major disappointment for Djokovic, who had previously stated that his main goals at this stage of his career are to compete for Grand Slam titles and represent Serbia in international competitions.

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A year ago, Serbia paid a high price for Djokovic’s absence during the Davis Cup qualifiers. Despite being heavy favourites with Miomir Kecmanovic and Dusan Lajovic leading the team on home soil, they suffered a crushing 0-4 defeat to Slovakia, eliminating them from a spot in the Finals early on.

This year, Serbia will again have to overcome the absence of their greatest player as they face a challenging opponent, Denmark, led by Holger Rune. Serbia’s team already includes Miomir Kecmanovic, Hamad Medjedovic, and Laslo Djere. However, captain Viktor Troicki was forced to make last-minute additions to the roster.

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Serbia adds Sabanov twins

The team now features twin brothers Matej and Ivan Sabanov, who were born in Subotica (now Serbia) when the country was part of the former Yugoslavia. Between 2010 and 2021, they competed under Croatia’s flag, as they spent years living in Osijek.

Both 32 years old, the Sabanov brothers have reached the top 80 in doubles rankings and have previously acknowledged Djokovic’s influence in their decision to represent Serbia.

“Novak gave us everything. He has always been our role model and the person we admire throughout our careers. Every piece of his advice is extremely valuable for our careers, and we are very honoured to have the opportunity to learn from such a tennis player,” Matej commented in 2021.

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