Novak Djokovic to kick off his 2021 season at ATP Cup

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will kick off his 2021 season at the ATP Cup, where he will be hoping to lead Serbia to back-to-back ATP Cup titles. 

Novak Djokovic will kick-off 2021 season playing @ATPCup in Melbourne.

— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) December 20, 2020

Djokovic, a 17-time Grand Slam champion, absolutely delivered for Serbia at the inaugural ATP Cup, winning each of his six singles matches and both of his doubles matches. 

Djokovic came up absolutely big for the Serbian team in the final as he initiated a comeback win over Spain. 

2019 Wimbledon semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut thrashed Dusan Lajovic in the opening rubber of the tie, before Djokovic handed a straight-set defeat to Rafael Nadal to force a decider in the final. 

Djokovic then delivered in the doubles rubber as he and Viktor Troicki beat Pablo Carreno Busta and Feliciano Lopez to seal the title for Serbia. 

The ATP Cup is set to take place between February 01-05, while the Australian Open is scheduled to be held between February 08-21.

Djokovic played no part in the Nenad Zimonjic firing 

Zimonjic, who was the captain of the Serbian team that won the inaugural ATP Cup, was sacked as the Serbian Davis Cup team captain. 

Former world No. 12 Troicki is the new Serbian Davis Cup team captain.

"Novak Djokovic was as surprised as I was. He didn't want to get involved too much. His goal was for the Davis Cup to stay with the younger ones and for them to carry the national team and for him to be there to help. Krajinovic, Lajovic, Kecmanovic, Djere, they are all younger than our generation that won the Davis Cup," Troicki said.

"Novak is the main member and a lot depends on him. He wants to slowly give way to the younger ones. Not to be confused, he did not say that he would retire, but we will see when he can play. Of course he will be available."

Djokovic helped Serbia win their lone Davis Cup title in 2010.

"It was a beautiful experience with Novak Djokovic, who played really well at the time. He always plays well, but then he was really in shape and it is very important to us that he is winning. Victor beat Llodra in the final, and ten years passed quickly. We have gathered now to celebrate it, unfortunately, not everyone was in the country. It was nice to remember those moments. The team is small, not everyone managed to come," Filip Krajinovic said.

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