Novak Djokovic to lead Serbia at ATP Cup

World no. 1 and the 17-time Major champion Novak Djokovic will lead Serbia at the second ATP Cup in Melbourne in the first week of February.

Twelve teams will compete for the notable team trophy between February 1-5 at Melbourne Park, and Novak is the second player from the top who will defend the national honors after the US Open champion Dominic Thiem. Novak will train in Melbourne for two weeks before stepping on the court for the first official matches of the season at the ATP Cup, looking forward to defending the title he won this January. Unlike in 2020, the organizers had to reduce the field, with four groups of three teams fighting for four semi-final spots after the round-robin action.

Djokovic was the player to beat at the ATP Cup this year, scoring six singles victories and earning 665 ATP points to reduce the deficit to Rafael Nadal in the no. 1 battle ahead of the Australian Open. Novak toppled Kevin Anderson, Gael Monfils, Cristian Garin, Denis Shapovalov and Daniil Medvedev, helping Serbia reach the title match against Spain. In the battle of the world's leading players, Novak ousted Rafa 6-2, 7-6 to keep Serbia alive, stepping on the court again in the deciding doubles rubber to beat the Spanish duo and secure the trophy for Serbia alongside Viktor Troicki.