Bangalore, Sep 8 (IANS): World No.1 Novak Djokovic has decided to skip the Davis Cup World Group play-off tie against India scheduled to be played here from Sep 12-14, according to the visiting team’s non-playing captain Bogdan Obradovic.
“Novak is definitely not coming to India, mainly because of fatigue and also he would like to be with his wife who is expecting their first child,” said Obradovic here Monday afternoon soon after his team’s practice session.
An official announcement from the Serbian Tennis Federation is expected later in the day.
The International Tennis Federation (ITF) had announced last week that Djokovic would be part of the Serbian team, but the Wimbledon champion had stated soon after his semi-final defeat to Kei Nishikori at the US Open that he had not yet decided on playing the Davis Cup tie.
Earlier, Obradovic was quoted on a Serbian website www.novosti.rs as saying that Djokovic needed a break from tennis due to fatigue.
“Our best player Novak Djokovic is definitely not coming to India. The biggest reason is fatigue. Novak had a very hard season and he needs a break.”
“A trip to India requires a huge effort, not only in terms of travel, coming from one end of the planet to the other, from New York to Bangalore, but also to the harsh conditions of the game here, high humidity and high altitude,” the website quoted Obradovic as saying.
The 2010 champions Serbia, already without their No.2 player Janko Tipsarevic who is recovering from a foot surgery, are likely to replace Djokovic with their reserve player Ilija Bozolac who is here with the rest of the team.
Incidentally, Obradovic had spoken highly of Bozolac, ranked No.171, in the course of a media interaction here Sunday and the possibility of his partnering their most experienced player and doubles specialist Nenad Zimonjic.
The duo has a victory over the Bryan twins, Mike and Bob who Sunday won the US Open doubles for their 100th ATP title.
“We have the experience of Nenad Zimonjic, a very experienced doubles player. We also have Illija Bozolac. They have beaten the best team in the history of doubles, the Bryan brothers,” Obradovic had said Sunday.