Djokovic faces obstacles and will be unable to represent Serbia after the Australian Open.

Djokovic has always felt a profound pride in playing for Serbia. This Serbian icon may no longer live in his home country permanently, but his passion for the nation remains unchanged. He once revealed his dream retirement scenario: "Perhaps finishing my career at the Olympics, raising the Serbian flag, would be a beautiful moment." Now, as he prepares for the 2026 season, he is chasing his 25th Grand Slam title. However, this goal might clash with his strong patriotic feelings.

According to Tennis365, the future looks bleak for Serbia’s Davis Cup team, as their top player has confirmed he will not participate in the upcoming tie against Chile. Captain Troicki had hoped the 24-time Grand Slam champion would join the squad, but this wish now seems out of reach. As he explained, the scheduling makes everything complicated.

“This timing is really unsuitable for him,” Troicki said in an interview with Sport Klub. “We all want him to perform well and advance far in the Australian Open. After such a demanding Grand Slam event, flying straight from Melbourne to Chile, adapting to a different surface, and playing alongside us is just not feasible.”

If Djokovic reaches the Australian Open final on February 1, he would have almost no recovery time before switching continents and surfaces to compete in the Davis Cup. Transitioning quickly from Melbourne’s hard courts to Chile’s clay is an extremely tough demand. Troicki acknowledged this reality, expressing both practical concerns and understanding support.

For Djokovic, he never hides his sense of duty representing Serbia, repeatedly emphasizing, “My top priority is to serve the national team and compete in Grand Slam tournaments.” Yet, scheduling conflicts and physical recovery issues often stand in the way. In February last year, he missed Serbia’s 2-3 loss to Norway; later in September 2025, despite initially agreeing to lead the team against Turkey in the World Group, he chose to withdraw from the Davis Cup.

“I really wish I could play in the Davis Cup,” Djokovic said in an interview. “Throughout my career, representing my country has always been an honor and a privilege. I am always eager to compete for Serbia, but it all depends on my physical condition because I want to be the best option for the team. I hope we can defeat Turkey and return to the World Group next year; we deserve that spot. The Davis Cup reforms make me happy because they give us more opportunities to play at home.”

Currently, how Djokovic will handle these challenges remains to be seen; he is not a man to give up easily. After all, he once held the world number one ranking for 428 weeks, won 101 titles, and claimed 24 Grand Slam trophies. However, his physical condition may no longer be at its peak.

The new season has just begun, and various warm-up tournaments are underway, but Djokovic’s plans have already been disrupted. The Serbian star initially intended to lead the Adelaide International but ultimately withdrew. He later confirmed this decision, stating he was “not yet physically ready to compete.”

This announcement immediately upset his early-season schedule. On January 6, he shared the news on Instagram, expressing his feelings to fans: “This is really disappointing for me personally because I won there two years ago and have very fond memories. I was looking forward to returning to compete—it felt like playing at home. Now, my focus is on preparing for the Australian Open and soon arriving in Melbourne to meet all the tennis fans in Australia.”

This decision surprised many, especially since the event organizers had confirmed his participation just last month. Nearly two months have passed since his last main draw match at the Athens Open in November last year, which has fueled concerns about his form. However, Djokovic never leaves things to chance; he clearly chose to prioritize recovery rather than take risks.

Now, all eyes turn to Melbourne. Can this Serbian superstar regain his rhythm in time to challenge Sinner and Alcaraz, aiming for a historic 25th Grand Slam title?(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark)