Djokovic Shuns Riches in Favour of Brisbane Gig
WORLD No.3 Novak Djokovic has turned down a second offer of Middle-East appearance fee riches to launch his Australian Open campaign at the Brisbane International.
Djokovic has opted to go straight from training in Europe to Brisbane for the January 4 to 11 tournament at Tennyson, bypassing a lucrative six-man exhibition in Abu Dhabi. It is played from January 1 to 3 and has attracted men's top two Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Serbia's Australian Open champion had previously chosen to play in Brisbane rather than pursue a bigger appearance fee on offer at the Doha ATP tournament, which is played in the same week as Brisbane and also boasts entries from Nadal and Federer.
Brisbane International tournament director Steve Ayles regards the scheduling choices as further evidence that Djokovic believes a long run as top seed at the premier Tennyson event is the best preparation for his Australian Open defence from January 19.
Djokovic could have played in both Abu Dhabi and Brisbane by requesting Ayles not schedule him for the first or second day at Tennyson.
"It was being said Abu Dhabi had the top six players at one stage. I had heard suggestions Novak was going to Abu Dhabi and that he wasn't," Ayles said.
"Novak said he would play here because he saw it as the best way to get ready for the Australian Open."
