Novak Djokovic’s brother Djordje confirms there will be no fans at Serbia Open, but says the event will have a ‘very strong lineup’

Novak Djokovic’s youngest brother Djordje Djokovic, who can be the match director of the Serbia Open, recently spoke with a local TV channel concerning the 2021 version of the match. Djordje confirmed that the Belgrade occasion might be held with out followers, earlier than naming the gamers that might be becoming a member of Novak Djokovic within the draw.

Djordje Djokovic had additionally served because the match director of the notorious Adria Tour final yr. Talking concerning the preparations on the Serbia Open, Djordje claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic had made it a ‘troublesome scenario’ with respect to spectator attendance.

“Sadly, there might be no followers this yr as a result of we’re in a troublesome scenario with lots of people who contract the virus each day,” Djordje Djokovic mentioned.

Djordje Djokovic’s appointment because the match director of the Serbia Open had initially appeared doubtful, given his historical past with the Adria Tour. However the 25-year-old is seemingly taking each precaution to make sure that a scenario like final yr shouldn’t be repeated.

“It is a very troublesome yr for everybody and the restrictions have resulted in loads of accidents” – Novak Djokovic’s brother Djordje

Novak Djokovic’s brother additionally weighed in on Borna Coric and Stan Wawrinka withdrawing from the occasion. The Serb insisted that every one the gamers are going by a troublesome interval on account of quarantine restrictions, which can have had a bearing on their health too.

“It is a very troublesome yr for everybody and the restrictions have resulted in loads of accidents,” Djordje mentioned. “Sadly, Borna Coric and Stan Wawrinka needed to withdraw.”

Wawrinka and Coric be part of Matteo Berrettini as the highest 30 gamers that might be skipping the 250-level match on account of harm. However the Serbia Open nonetheless guarantees to have a number of high gamers on present, as Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfils and Aslan Karatsev make up the highest 4 seeds.

“We nonetheless have a really robust lineup,” Djordje mentioned. “In addition to Novak Djokovic, Dominic Thiem, Gael Monfis and Aslan Karatsev will enter the match, as will Serbs Filip Krajinovic, Laslo Djere and Miomir Kecmanovic. Lots of the high 30 gamers might be right here.”

Whereas Djordje is understandably bullish concerning the high quality of the Belgrade subject, it’s pertinent to notice that a number of high gamers might be enjoying within the concurrently scheduled Barcelona Open. The entry record on the 500-level occasion contains stars like Rafael Nadal, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Diego Schwartzman, Roberto Bautista Agut and Denis Shapovalov.