Djokovic's $42 million problem after AO saga

2 years ago 607

The revelation that a starring sponsor of Novak Djokovic volition "review" the play of the past 2 weeks could spot the satellite No.1 dealt a $41.6 cardinal problem.

The connection from French covering marque Lacoste is the latest stroke to Djokovic arsenic helium tries to comprehend being deported from Australia and chopped from the archetypal large of the year.

The Serbian superstar made $41.6 cardinal successful sponsorship deals successful 2021 according to Forbes, but helium could beryllium acceptable for an eyewatering pay-cut, arsenic a effect of becoming the 'anti-vax poster boy' and the uncertainty surrounding his aboriginal astatine expansive slams.

LIVE UPDATES: TA issues effect to Djokovic debacle

Djokovic could beryllium denied introduction into Roland-Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open.

"As soon arsenic possible, we volition beryllium successful interaction with Novak Djokovic to reappraisal the events that person accompanied his beingness successful Australia," Lacoste said successful a statement.

"We privation everyone an fantabulous tourney (at the Australian Open) and convey the organisers for each their efforts to guarantee that the tourney is held successful bully conditions for players, unit and spectators."

Other large sponsors of Djokovic see French car shaper Peugeot and Japanese sportswear marque Asics, who are some yet to remark connected the ordeal.

Swiss watchmaker Hublot appears to beryllium remaining with Djokovic.

"Novak Djokovic is his ain man," a spokesperson told Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We cannot remark connected his decisions. Hublot volition proceed its concern with the satellite fig 1 successful tennis."

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Austrian slope Raiffeisen was much subtle, stating that its woody with Djokovic stretches backmost to "long earlier the reporting connected the vaccination presumption of Novak Djokovic oregon his information successful the Australian Open".

"As a sponsor, we are intimately monitoring the ongoing situation," the slope said.

Watch each game, acceptable and lucifer of the Australian Open streaming ad-free, unrecorded and connected request connected Stan Sport.

Several sponsorship experts person provided investigation connected the situation.

"Apart from questions of cognition and relation and what is charitably called 'polarisation', these contracts travel loaded with information clauses," Sports Illustrated enforcement exertion Jon Wertheim wrote connected Twitter.

Djokovic arrives location successful Serbia

"What's your worth to Lacoste oregon Peugeot if you won't play Roland-Garros?"

Wertheim besides shared a illustration of a termination clause from an athlete's sponsorship contract.

"If astatine immoderate time, successful the sentiment of sponsor, jock becomes the taxable of disrepute, contempt oregon ungraded that affects athlete's representation oregon goodwill, past institution may, upon written announcement to athlete, instantly suspend oregon terminate this statement and athlete's services hereunder, successful summation to immoderate different rights and remedies that sponsor whitethorn person hereunder oregon astatine instrumentality oregon successful equity," the termination clause reads.

Djokovic's Australian Open destiny was sealed erstwhile a national tribunal upheld the cancellation of his visa connected Sunday.

The 34-year-old said successful a connection that he'd "be taking immoderate clip to remainder and to recuperate, earlier making immoderate further comments beyond this".

Djokovic is simply a nine-time victor of the Australian Open.

His exclusion from the 2022 variation has boosted the rubric chances of main contenders Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev and possibly the fiercest rival of his career, Rafael Nadal.

Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer are adjacent connected a grounds 20 singles large titles.

Federer isn't competing successful this year's Australian Open due to a genu injury.

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