'It is with deep sadness that I read that Novak Djokovic is barred...', says legend

Novak Djokovic's 2020, on the pitch, was a year full of victories and successes. The Serbian champion started the season in the best possible way and took Serbia to the top of the world at the ATP Cup by beating champions of the caliber of Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev and Denis Shapovalov in singles during the tournament. A few days after his victory in the new team competition, Djokovic then made his debut at the Australian Open; tournament that he won thanks to the victory in the final in the fifth set against Dominic Thiem. The same story repeated itself in Dubai, where the Belgrade canceled three match points at Gael Monfils in the semifinals and dominated the final act of the tournament against Stefanos Tsitsipas. Just when it seemed to have reached its best level again, the medical emergency forced the Tour to be suspended for about six months. After the long break, however, Djokovic returned to Djokovic and achieved yet another success in a Masters 1000 event, this time in Cincinnati. At the US Open, the only real regret of his sporting season, Djokovic came into the eye of the storm for the disqualification received in the round of 16, when he involuntarily hit the line judge in the throat with a shot. It was a tough period, which the 17-time Grand Slam winner managed to overcome first in Rome and then in Paris. In the first case he triumphed at the Masters 1000 in Rome, in the second he surrendered only in the final to the king of the earth Nadal. Finally, the last two tournaments of the year have not seen a concentrated and attentive Djokovic take the field. Result: defeat in the quarter-finals in Vienna against Lorenzo Sonego and defeat in the semifinals at the ATP Finals against Thiem. Nothing is official yet, but according to some Serbian media, Djokovic’s 2021 will begin at the ATP Cup. The world number one will try to guide his boys towards the second consecutive success in this prestigious and interesting event. ATP's new rule, which bars Novak Djokovic from contesting elections, has attracted heavy criticism from Paul McNamee. The ex-CEO of Australian Open lashed out at the ATP saying that its founders, including Arthur Ashe, would be ashamed.

Paul McNamee on Novak Djokovic

Paul McNamee feels that the ATP's founding members, including the late legend Arthur Ashe, would have never condoned such a move by the organization. "It is with deep sadness that I read that the #1 player in the world is barred from representing his peers," McNamee wrote. "This was never, is not and will never be what the organization ought to stand for. The founders of the ATP, including the late great Arthur Ashe, would be ashamed." Novak Djokovic did also take a shot at the governing body by adding that he hoped the rule would be applied consistently at all levels and not just with regard to the PTPA. "I hope that, going forward, this is not only applied to the formation of new associations at the player level but further applied to all levels within the ATP structure," Djokovic said in his statement.

from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/3rkgepv