Novak Djokovic Withdraws From Davis Cup Qualifiers After Australian Open Retirement
News
Team Serbia's hopes of progressing to the next round of the Davis Cup qualifiers have been significantly damaged by Novak Djokovic's withdrawal.
Djokovic left the Australian Open's Rod Laver Arena devastated after retiring from the semifinal against Alexander Zverev. The 37-year-old had narrowly lost a lengthy opening set on a tiebreak before deciding he could no longer continue.
That unfortunate retirement was caused by a muscle tear in his leg. He had struggled with the same issue in the quarterfinal against Carlos Alcaraz but managed to pull through after treatment for the problem.
Djokovic was set to represent his country against Denmark in Copenhagen next week. That match would have featured a fascinating singles match between him and Holger Rune, who has a decent record against the tennis legend.
However, Djokovic was expected to withdraw from the tie after his retirement against Zverev. That has now been officially confirmed by Serbian publication Sportklub, meaning Team Serbia will have to manage without its greatest-ever player.
The experienced Dusan Lajovic also withdrew, so the Serbian team will now consist of Laslo Djere, Hamad Medjedovic, and Miomir Kecmanovic. They are solid players, but none of them can replace Djokovic.
One particularly disappointing aspect of Djokovic's withdrawal is that if Team Serbia and Team Spain had won their opening-round matches, Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz could have met in the second round of qualifying in a tie between the countries.
The duo's stunning rallies in the Australian Open quarterfinal showed why their matches are great for the sport. That contest was just one of several epic battles between the pair in recent years.
Other examples include Alcaraz's incredible five-set 2023 Wimbledon final win, Djokovic's victory in what some consider the best ATP Masters 1000 final ever at the Cincinnati Open, and the 24-time Grand Slam champion's claiming Olympic gold last year after overcoming Alcaraz.
Although Alcaraz won't play in Spain's tie next week against Switzerland, he will be hoping for his teammates to do well in the team event after Rafael Nadal's career ended heartbreakingly in November's finals.
In Team Spain's quarterfinal tie against the Netherlands in Malaga, Nadal lost what turned out to be his final match against Botic van de Zandschulp. Alcaraz restored some hope by winning his singles contest to level the tie.
Wesley Koolhof and van de Zandschulp played inspired tennis to beat Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers and eliminate Team Spain. This was followed by a retirement ceremony, which many called underwhelming and unworthy of what Nadal had given to tennis.
Afterward, Alcaraz's devastation on the team bench was apparent. While Granollers made far more mistakes in the doubles match they lost, he undoubtedly felt a responsibility to send Nadal off by winning the Davis Cup before the tie began.
Another battle between Alcaraz and Djokovic would have thrilled fans, but hopefully, there will be other chances for that in 2025. Because of his injury concern, it is also uncertain whether the Serbian will compete at next month's Qatar Open as planned.
