Alexander Zverev has just defeated Novak Djokovic in Turin to access the Final of the ATP’s season’s finale.
The Serbian sensation will play Davis Cup as the last competition of the year. Then he will probably take a break before starting the preseason.
Will Djokovic play the Australian Open?
There is huge uncertainty about Djokovic’s participation in the upcoming Australian Open. The world number 1 won the major in Australia 9 times and he will be the hot favourite to get his 10th.
However, it has been stated that only fully vaccinated players will be allowed to compete. Djokovic is notoriously against vaccination and therefore, he will not play unless he complies with the Australian law.
When asked to comment about Novak’s situation, Alexander Zverev said:
“Look, this is a very tough one because it’s very political. At the end of the day I don’t know his criterias. I don’t know them to the point.
But we are visiting another country. This is not about tennis. This is about the virus that is going on, right? This is not about a tournament or tennis. We are visiting a different country. At the end of the day the country is allowing us to enter. We need to follow the rules and follow the guidelines.
I hope he’s able to play. At the end of the day, I’m No. 3 in the world, so if he doesn’t play, it’s easier to win the tournament. This is obvious. Also he’s No. 1 in the world so he should be there.”
Zverev is still hopeful that Novak will have an exemption or something about that to play in Melbourne.
“Hopefully the Australian government will make an exemption or whatever it is that they can do for him to be able to participate there,” added the German.
Zverev in the Nitto ATP Finals, ranking, and results in 2021
Ranked no.3 (career-high), the German has managed to achieve a 58-15 match record in 2021. Zverev ended his run in the round robin after defeating Novak Djokovic 7-64 4-6 6-3.
Alexander Zverev will fight against the world no.2 Daniil Medvedev in the final. Their current record is 6-5 for Medvedev.
The German has won 5 titles in 2021 in Acapulco, in Madrid, in Tokyo, in Cincinnati and in Vienna.
Alexander won 18 titles in his career: 6 on hard courts, 6 on clay courts and 6 on indoor courts. (See the list of his titles)
Novak Djokovic in 2021
Now ranked no.1, the Serbian played his last match on the 20th of November when he surrendered to world no.3 Alexander Zverev 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 in the semifinal in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Currently, during this year Novak achieved a compiled 51-7 record. The Serbian clinched 5 titles in 2021 at the Australian Open, in Belgrade, at the French Open, in Wimbledon and in Paris. Novak got to the final in Rome and at the U.S. Open.
Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic squared off 11 times. Their actual record is 7-4 for Djokovic. Previously, the last time when they locked horns, Alexander Zverev won 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 in the semifinal in Turin (Nitto ATP Finals) on the 20th of November 2021.
Alexander Zverev and Novak Djokovic |
| Embed from Getty Images |
