ATP: Novak Djokovic – Separate Davis Cup and Olympics

World number one Novak Djokovic wants to change a long-standing rule that links eligibility for the Olympic Games to the Davis Cup.

Novak Djokovic cried bitter tears in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. The Serbian was the clear favourite for the gold medal in the Olympic city – but then became the victim of the worst possible lot: Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentinian eliminated Djokovic and was defeated by Andy Murray in the final.

The next chance for Olympic gold will be in about two years, Tokyo 2020 has Djokovic certainly planned in his calendar fixed. However, in order to be eligible, Djokovic must have competed in the Davis Cup at least once in the two years preceding the Olympic Games according to the existing regulations. And it’s exactly this rule that pisses the world number one off.

That Djokovic will miss the new final tournament in Madrid in November 2019 is almost certain. As ATP’s best-ranked player representative, the 14-time Major Champion prefers to concentrate on the premiere of the ATP Cup, which takes place a few weeks after the Davis Cup final tournament. And whether Djokovic will travel directly to Tashkent after the Australian Open, where his Serbs have to compete against Uzbekistan – at least that is doubtful.

Fredrik Rosengren, the coach of Great Britain’s number one Kyle Edmund, said in a podcast a few days ago that Djokovic approached his protégé with a mail. Content: A call to boycott that rule which links Davis Cup events to the eligibility for the Olympic Games. The ITF has also provided the British with a wild card for the final week in Madrid.

Whether Djokovic also contacted Alexander Zverev in this matter is not known. The German number one, however, had much more luck than his opponent in the ATP Finals in London: Germany plays at home in Frankfurt against Hungary. With Zverev. But he categorically spoke out against a mission in Madrid in November. Which would have no consequences with regard to Olympia 2020.