Djokovic will not be vaccinated for the US Open and accepts the consequences NOW

Novak Djokovic repeated on Saturday that he absolutely will not be vaccinated against the corona virus, even though he is probably not allowed to participate in the US Open. The Serb sees the forced absence in New York in his eyes as extra motivation to perform well at Wimbledon in the coming weeks.

Two days before the start of Wimbledon, 35-year-old Djokovic was asked at a press conference in London if he was still certain of his decision not to get vaccinated. “Yes,” he said convincingly. “I would love to go to the United States, but under these circumstances it is impossible.”

Last year, Djokovic won Wimbledon and reached the final battle at the US Open. At the time, he was still allowed to participate in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year, because vaccination was not yet mandatory to gain entry to the United States. Now it’s different and it looks like it won’t be any different in August when the US Open gets underway.

“It is up to the US government to make a decision on whether to allow people in without vaccination against the coronavirus. There is nothing I can do to change the situation.”

Novak Djokovic trained on the grass courts of Wimbledon on Saturday.

Novak Djokovic trained on the grass courts of Wimbledon on Saturday.

Photo: Getty Images

Djokovic is placed first

Earlier this year, Djokovic was refused at the Australian Open, but he was welcome at Roland Garros, as well as at Wimbledon. The number three in the world ranking is placed first on the London grass. “The fact that I will probably have to miss the US Open motivates me to do extra well here.”

Daniil Medvedev, the number one in the world ranking, is not allowed to participate in Wimbledon. The organization of the most important grass tournament of the year bans all players from Russia and Belarus because of the war in Ukraine. Alexander Zverev, the global number two, is also missing from Wimbledon. The German has an ankle injury.

Djokovic is chasing his 21st Grand Slam title at Wimbledon and would pass the injured Roger Federer (twenty titles). Rafael Nadal is the record holder with 22 titles after his overall victories at the Australian Open and Roland Garros this year.

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