Novak Djokovic Won’t Get Covid-19 Vaccination In Time For U.S. Open

Novak Djokovic has no plans to get the Covid-19 vaccine ahead of the U.S. Open and as of now wouldn’t be eligible to enter the U.S. for the final Grand Slam of the year.

Under current rules, unvaccinated foreigners can’t enter the U.S.

“Hopefully I can have a very good tournament [at Wimbledon], as I have done in the last three editions,” said Djokovic, who has won the last three Wimbledons in 2018, ‘19 and ‘21 and owns 20 major titles.

“Then I’ll just have to wait and see. I would love to go to States. But as of today, that’s not possible. There is not much I can do anymore. I mean, it’s really up to the U.S. government to make a decision whether or not they allow unvaccinated people to go into the country.”

Djokovic, who has had Covid twice, was deported ahead of the Australian Open in January because he was not vaccinated and was not allowed in the U.S. for Indian Wells and Miami in March.

He opens play at Wimbledon on Monday as the defending champ and No. 1 seed, and is drawn to meet No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal, owner of a men’s record 22 majors, in the final.

This could be the last major of the year for the 35-year-old Djokovic, who hasn’t won a Grand Slam singles title since beating Matteo Berrettini in the Wimbledon final a year ago. He lost in the U.S. Open final to Daniil Medvedev while he was one match shy of completing the calendar Slam, missed playing in Australia and lost in the Roland Garros quarterfinals to Nadal.

“That is an extra motivation to do well here,” he said of Wimbledon.

Djokovic still has time to get vaccinated ahead of the start of the U.S. Open on Aug. 29. Asked by a reporter if he had “completely closed your mind to that as an option,” he said, “Yes.”