World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is ready to kick off his 2024 season on the mixed-team United Cup in Australia, though his longtime rival, Rafa Nadal, was notably absent from the Spain workforce lineup introduced on Friday.
Djokovic will lead Serbia on the second version of the AU$15 million ($9.47 million) occasion from Dec. 29-Jan. 7 earlier than bidding for a record-extending twenty fifth Grand Slam title on the Australian Open.
Team Poland, led by four-time main champion Iga Swiatek and Eleventh-ranked Hubert Hurkacz, are high seeds on the 16-nation event, which was received by the United States in January.
Nadal performed for Spain in that version, and whereas he described it as a “great idea,” he criticized the format for having groups play off in useless rubbers.
He was later overwhelmed within the second spherical of his Australian Open title protection after aggravating a hip damage and has not returned to motion since.
Tournament director Craig Tiley introduced final week that Nadal would play within the subsequent Australian Open in January, however the Spaniard’s consultant mentioned there was no date set for his comeback.
If match, Nadal has a selection of different Australian Open warmup occasions within the leadup to the Grand Slam, together with a pair of ATP tournaments in Adelaide beginning Jan. 1.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
