Unvaccinated Djokovic still hopes to play at US Open – NBC10 in Philadelphia

Novak Djokovic hopes he can play at the US Open despite not being vaccinated against the coronavirus.

The 21-time Grand Slam champion said on his social media accounts on Saturday that he has been training as if he will be playing at Flushing Meadows when the final major match of the year begins on August 29.

“I’m preparing as if I’m going to be allowed to compete while I wait to see if I have the opportunity to go to the US. Fingers crossed!” he wrote.

Although it was included in the US Open entry listThe United States does not allow unvaccinated non-citizens to enter the country, so the Serb had to sit out big events in Indian Wells, California and Miami this season.

Djokovic, 35, was able to play at Wimbledon, which he won for his 21st Grand Slam title, and earlier at the French Open, where he lost in the quarterfinals to eventual champion Rafael Nadal. The Spaniard holds the men’s record 22 major singles titles.

After defeating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final, Djokovic said he would “love” to take part in the US Open, but added: “I have no plans to get vaccinated.”

Djokovic won three championships at Flushing Meadows. His loss in the 2021 final to Daniil Medvedev prevented Djokovic from becoming the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win a Grand Slam in a calendar year.

Djokovic missed the Australian Open in January after being deported from the country because of his vaccine status.