Novak Djokovic repeated his tough refusal to receive a Covid-19 vaccination on Saturday as he resigned himself to serving the final Grand Slam of the season at the US Open. Djokovic was deported from Melbourne in January for his determined but controversial stance, forcing him to suspend a bid for a 10th Australian Open title. With no sign of US authorities relaxing their rule requiring all visitors to be vaccinated, Djokovic, 35, admitted on Saturday that Wimbledon, which starts Monday, will be his last Slam of 2022. When asked if he had completely closed his mind to get vaccinated, he was unequivocal.
“Yes,” he said.
Djokovic was US Open champion in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
He has 20 Slams to his name, two less than longtime rival Rafael Nadal.
Last year, the defeat in the New York final of Daniil Medvedev robbed him of the chance to become the first man since 1969 to win a Grand Slam on the calendar.
His inability to travel to the United States — he already missed the Indian Wells and Miami Masters — will be a major driver as he sets his sights on a seventh Wimbledon title.
“As of today, I am not allowed to enter the States under these circumstances. That is an extra motivation to do well here. Hopefully I can have a very good tournament,” said Djokovic.
“I’d really like to go to States. But as of today, that’s not possible. I can’t do much more.
“It’s really up to the US government to decide whether or not to let unvaccinated people into the country.”
Also adding fuel to the Djokovic fire is the chance to win a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title and join a select group.
In the Open era, only Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras and Roger Federer have managed to complete such a streak of dominance at the All England Club.
“As a seven- or eight-year-old boy, I dreamed of winning Wimbledon and becoming number 1,” he added.
promoted
“Pete Sampras winning his first Wimbledon was the first tennis match I ever saw on TV.”
(This story was not edited by DailyExpertNews staff and was generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)
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