Defiantly unvaxxed Novak Djokovic has admitted he won’t risk deportation by testing US COVID jab laws, meaning he is almost certain to skip the American harcourt summer.
The former world No. 1 who now stands third, has already experienced the full force of officialdom with his detention and deportation from Australia prior to January’s Open.
But the Serb is not willing to try it again in the US and looks sure to miss both the Cincinnati Masters in August and the US Open.
After re-affirming at Wimbledon that he will also not entertain taking the COVID jabs, Djokovic now has only the grass major at the All England Club to focus on, though he would well front up at some minor ATP 250 clay events in Europe.
“At this point in my career, the Grand Slams are my top priority tournaments.,” he said after reaching the Wimbledon second round.
“Of course I want to play in New York. On the other hand, if I am not given the opportunity to do so, it is not the end of the world.
“We will look forward. Right now I’m totally focused on Wimbledon.”
Djokovic has been emboldened by tweets from 225th-ranked US fringe player Tennys Sandgren – like the Serb a confirmed anti-vaxxer.
Djokovic fails to see the “logic” in letting any unvaxxed American play while banning foreigners.
But he ruled out trying to slip through the Mexican border into the US, with land borders less controlled than air corridors with vaccines somehow not required.
I’ve heard that some people got away with it and got in, people who aren’t ‘famous,’ but I wouldn’t even consider going there if they’re not allowed.
“I wanted to thank Tennys for the public support he has given me. If unvaccinated players are not allowed to play the US Open, that should be the case for everyone.
“I don’t see any scientific logic to the fact that Tennys can play because he’s a US citizen and I’m not. If he had a US passport or a green card he could play.
“Perhaps there is a political logic behind all this, but I would prefer not to investigate it, you can understand why.”
