ATP: Novak Djokovic's start in Monreal "unrealistic"
The next ATP Masters 1000 tournament will probably take place without the now seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic .
by tennisnet.com
last edit: Jul 19, 2022, 02:25 pm
From August 7th, the traditional Canadian Masters 1000 tournament will be held, again this year in Montreal. Rafael Nadal could possibly start there, the Spaniard has resumed training. Amazing considering that Nadal was unable to compete in his Wimbledon semi-final a few days ago due to an acute abdominal muscle injury. On the other hand, the combination of Nadal and Canada fits quite well, the matador has already won five titles in Montreal or Toronto.
Alexander Zverev will certainly not be there, who is working on a comeback after his ankle injury, but for whom participation in the US Open would be a moral (and medical) success. And there is also good news for German tennis: because the Davis Cup round in Hamburg is coming up right after that. Zverev would be sorely missed.
Djokovic will not be vaccinated
And Novak Djokovic? He is in great shape, in a good mood and actually ready to dominate the tennis circuit in the usual way. Alone: the Serb will probably not get that many opportunities this summer. Because for a participation in Montreal it looks rather cloudy. Because in Canada there is a vaccination mandate. "Either the Canadian government changes the rules regarding vaccination or Novak Djokovic rolls up his sleeves and gets vaccinated," said tournament director Eugen Lapierre in The Daily Express. "But I don't think those scenarios are realistic."
Djokovic himself emphasized again at Wimbledon that he did not intend to be vaccinated. And that he could not imagine that there would be an exception that would allow him to enter the country. At the beginning of the year, the 35-year-old traveled to Australia believing in such a regulation, probably also after consultation with the Australian Tennis Association - and was then not allowed to take part in the first major of the year.