Novak Djokovic, 28 and Nenad Zimonjic, 39 of Serbia will play doubles at the upcoming Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and the Rio Olympics in August.
Rare appearance
World number one and eleven times Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic will make a rare appearance on the doubles scene when he partners compatriot Nenad Zimonjic at the Dubai Tennis Championships.
The tournament that is scheduled for February 22-28 has a star-studded line up with the likes of Jean-Julien Rojer and Horia Tecau, Ivan Dodig-Marcelo Melo, Jamie Murray-Daniel Nestor, and Rohan Bopanna-Florin Mergea, who are currently the top four seeds to play.
Nenad Zimonjic, who is in Rotterdam with Gilles Muller, will be looking to team up with Djokovic and play only his second tournament of the year. He had to pull out of the Australian Open due to injuring his right thumb during skiing on holiday in the offseason.
Going for Gold
Novak Djokovic and Nenad Zimonjic will team up to represent Serbia in this year's Olympics.
Zimonjic, a former number 1, revealed during an interview said, "Nole and I will play together in Rio De Janeiro. I think with him I have the greatest chance for winning a medal, which is one of biggest goals in my career, many strong teams will compete in the Olympic games, but I am confident that we can beat anyone. It’s a phenomenal thing for me, because we certainly have a great chance of success."
Zimonjic, who played with Janko Tipsarevic at the Olympics in 2012, were knocked out in the quarterfinals, while Djokovic and good friend Viktor Troicki fell in the first round to Sweden's Johan Brunstrom and Robert Lindstedt. The gold medal went to USA's Bryan Brothers, while France made it a double with silver and bronze respectively.
The singles world number one has also revealed that his priorities will be the Rio Olympics for the 2016 season, "It’s definitely right up there at the top of the priorities of this season, I have already had the very unique experience of representing my country at the Olympics. I was part of two Games, in Beijing and London. And with the way the last couple of seasons have gone for me, I feel I can do very well Rio."
The Rio Olympics will take place from 5-21 August and the Tennis will be played on a fast hard court which will suit Djokovic immensely.