Dusan Lajovic drops his thoughts as Serbian number 1 as Novak Djokovic misses the ATP Cup
Follow Us
Novak Djokovic and Dusan Lajovic
With the ATP Cup fast approaching to begin the new season, it’s home stretch for players as they look to get some sharpness back after the off-season and be in optimal condition for the start of the tournament. The tournament, scheduled to begin from 1st January, has a depleted list of participants as players have pulled out due to covid related concerns or to fo us on the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic had too pulled out from the international tournament amidst his Covid vaccination controversy, with the Serb firmly against vaccination and thus throwing his participation in the Australian Open in doubt.
Lajovic on being the No.1 in Djokovic’s absence
Dusan Lajovic is set to be the Serbian number 1 at the ATP Cup in Novak Djokovic’s absence. The former world number 23 would have huge responsibility on his shoulders in the absence of the world number 1.
As the bombshell about Novak’s absence was broken to the world, the Serbian team attended an ATP Cup press conference before the beginning of the main event, where there was understandably much interest about the big news and the players’ reaction to it.
Lajovic conveyed that he was excited and prepared to lead the team in the absence of his compatriot. He also conveyed that except for some possible tactical changes and the added pressure, there wouldn’t be much changes in his goal, which would be to win on court.
“Yeah, well, I mean, obviously there are some maybe tactical differences and pressure-wise, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to go out there, play your match, and try to win. You know, Filip will play No. 2 and he will start the matches, which is always I think maybe a little bit trickier because you’re opening up and playing that first tie. But, you know, I think we are both feeling great and we are both in good shape right now, and we just have to go out and fight till the end,” said Lajovic.
He also went on to revealed that he and his teammates knew about Djokovic’s decision since about a day and a half ago. The 31 year old added that not having the world number 1 in the team would definitely be a challenge to their title defense, but they’d have to find a way to deal with it.
“We knew a day and a half ago or something like that. I think we were all waiting for that last-minute decision. You know, it’s never the same when you have No. 1 in your team and you don’t have it. It’s a big difference. Obviously, you know, when Novak is in the team, the expectations get much higher.
“Then everybody is put in the spotlight on Novak, of course, and then trying to push the whole team. Right now maybe we are on the sideline a little bit, and it could be good for us, it could be bad, we’ll see. Definitely different, but we’ve got to see what happens after the tournament and how it goes. Unfortunately he’s not able to come here, but, you know, he was I think hoping, same as we did, that somehow he will be here. Unfortunately he’s not, and we’ve got to deal with it,” he concluded.
Serbia would be taking on Norway in their first match of the group stage on 1st January in the Ken Rosewall Arena.
READ NEXT: “I see Daniil Medvedev win several Grand Slams”: Nick Kyrgios ahead of the 2022 season
Stay Updated!
Akash Mandal
(433 Articles Published)