Citing personal reasons, Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Davis Cup. He was slated to lead Serbia in their Group B matchups against Spain, Canada, and Korea, but the former World No. 1 is no longer available for the event.
Viktor Troicki, the Serbian captain, shared that Djokovic had let them know he wouldn't be available to spearhead the team's attempt to match their historic 2010 win. Troicki emphasized that this is a private matter and is the sole reason for his absence. While he's out for the group stage, the door remains open for Djokovic to return if the team makes it to the final tournament in Malaga in November.
The current year has been quite a rollercoaster for Djokovic. Due to his status as unvaccinated against Covid-19, he was deported right before the Australian Open and subsequently missed the US Open, along with key events in Indian Wells and Miami. However, he found success at Wimbledon, where he clinched the title and extended his record to 21 Grand Slams.
Troicki announced the remaining roster representing Serbia, which consists of Nikola Cacic, Dusan Lajovic, Laslo Djere, Filip Krajinovic, and Miomir Kecmanovic. Djokovic's withdrawal is a significant loss for the tournament, particularly since Spain's top player, Rafael Nadal, had already confirmed he wouldn't be playing.
Meanwhile, Great Britain's squad for the Glasgow matches will feature Andy Murray, Joe Salisbury, Dan Evans, and Cameron Norrie. Murray mentioned how meaningful it is for him to return to the national team after a three-year hiatus from the competition.
Following his Wimbledon win, Djokovic reflected on how the challenges of the past year have shifted his outlook on life, noting that he no longer feels an intense pressure to keep adding to his legendary list of achievements.
Djokovic opened up about struggling mentally and emotionally, admitting that while he had the desire to compete, the overwhelming pressure and emotional turmoil made him feel disconnected while on the court. With his absence from the US Open, it remains uncertain when he will make his return to competitive ATP Tour play.