Djokovic was dropped from Melbourne in January due to his single-minded but controversial stance, forcing him to attack for his 10th Australian Open title.
With no sign of US officials easing his rule requiring all visitors to be vaccinated, 35-year-old Djokovic admitted on Saturday that Wimbledon, which starts on Monday, will be his last Slam of 2022.
When asked whether he has completely closed his mind to vaccination, he said frankly.
“Yes,” he said.
Djokovic was the US Open champion in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
He has 20 slams to his name, two less than old rival Rafael Nadal.
Last year, a loss to Daniil Medvedev in the New York final took away his opportunity to become the first man since 1969 to win a calendar Grand Slam.
His inability to travel to the United States – he had already missed the Indian Wells and Miami Masters – will serve as a key driver as he sets his eyes on a seventh Wimbledon title.
“To this day I am not allowed to enter the States under these circumstances. It is an added motivation to do well here. Hopefully I can have a very good tournament,” Djokovic said.
“I would love to go to the states. But in today’s time, it is not possible. I can’t do much now.
“It’s really up to the US government to decide whether they allow unvaccinated people into the country.”
Also adding fuel to Djokovic’s fire is the chance to win a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title and be in 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 boy of seven, eight, I dreamed of winning Wimbledon and becoming No.1,” he said.
“Pete Sampras won his first Wimbledon, that was the first tennis match I’d ever seen on TV.”
No comments:
Post a Comment