'Novak Djokovic should comply with any regulations in...', says legend

• Tennis News
• Novak Djokovic

IMG, an Endeavor company and a world leader in sports, events, media and fashion, announced today that it has reached a definitive agreement with Super Slam Ltd and its subsidiaries to acquire the Mutua Madrid Open tennis tournament and the tournament of golf Acciona Open of Spain.

The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2022, as long as the ATP, WTA and regulatory bodies give their approval. The Mutua Madrid Open, one of the nine ATP Masters 1000s and the four mandatory WTA 1000 events, will become part of IMG's list of top tennis tournaments, including the Miami Open and other events.

of the ATP and the WTA. "The Mutua Madrid Open will be a great addition to our global events portfolio and to the tennis business, which will now feature two of the three mandatory combined events on both circuits," commented Sam Zussman, Co-President of Media and Events at IMG.

“We look forward to leveraging Endeavor's broader network to further enhance the fan experience and add value through production, media, brand partnerships, retail, and hospitality, as well as we have done with the Miami Open».

Through the acquisition, Madrid Trophy Promotion SLU (MTP), the Spanish entity that manages the tournament will become part of IMG, and the general director of MTP and director of the tournament, Gerard Tsobanian, will become Senior Vice President of Events of IMG tennis.

Novak Djokovic has won a record nine Australian Open titles and is the two-time defending champion.

Becker speaks about Djokovic

Boris Becker has revealed he "can't imagine" that Novak Djokovic will not play at the 2022 Australian Open due to his love for the sport.

The German, who coached Djokovic from 2014 to 2016, asserted that the World No. 1 must follow the rules regarding vaccination being mandatory to play in the event. "I can't imagine that he won't play in Australia,” Becker said.

"He loves the sport too much for that, he loves tennis history too much for that. He wants to reach 21 Grand Slam wins. Australia is his best Grand Slam. He has already won nine times there. Why shouldn't he win a 10th time? He says it is his personal decision whether to get vaccinated or not," Becker continued.

"It is nobody's business. I'm with him on that. But if he wants to play on the tennis tour - and we're also having this discussion about [Bayern Munich footballer] Joshua Kimmich - then you just have to follow the rules. That means you have to be vaccinated in order to play," Becker added.

"That applies to Djokovic, that applies to Kimmich and that applies to every athlete who is at home in their respective sport."