Wimbledon winner Djokovic before "long hot summer vacation"
His 21st Grand Slam title will have been his last for a long time: if the US entry requirements don't miraculously change for Wimbledon championNovak Djokovic .
by SID
last edit: Jul 11, 2022, 12:52 pm
The seventh Wimbledon title on the eighth wedding anniversary: There was a lot to celebrate for the Novak and Jelena Djokovic couple at the traditional Champions Dinner in the All England Club before they went on their well-deserved vacation. However, this could take longer than desired. If the entry rules for the unvaccinated Serbs don't miraculously change in the USA, the "American Swing" with the US Open in New York will be cancelled.
"I'm not vaccinated and I don't intend to be vaccinated," said Djokovic after winning the Wimbledon final over his Australian challenger Nick Kyrgios. However, entry into the United States requires full proof of vaccination - and as things stand, his triumph on the Sacred Turf will have been Djokovic's last Grand Slam title for a long time.
Djokovic: "It took time to weather the storm"
In Australia they will not welcome him with open arms after the dispute about his visa at the beginning of the year, but Djokovic doesn't want to think that far anyway. It's also taken him long enough to get the inglorious days Down Under out of his head. The time in quarantine and in court caused "turbulence" for him, said Djokovic, "I needed time to weather the storm."
For his coach Goran Ivanisevic, Wimbledon winner in 2001, Djokovic's fourth consecutive triumph in London's south-west was like a resurrection. "Some would certainly not have recovered from it. They would never play tennis again," said the Croatian. The denied entry to Australia, where Djokovic is the record champion, was "a big shock". "And I was there, free. Imagine it for him," said Ivanisevic.
Djokovic is missing a title on Nadal
His success at Wimbledon was "a relief given everything I've been through this year," confirmed Djokovic. This triumph, his 21st in the 32nd Grand Slam final, with which he is again close to record holder Rafael Nadal (Spain) except for one title, has gained in "value, meaning and emotions". Especially since he will probably remain his only one in 2022. Since there were no points for this, he fell back from third to seventh place in the world rankings.
In view of the possible break in the tournament, another crash is imminent. But he hasn't given up hope completely, even if he doesn't believe in an "exemption". Djokovic is betting that "the green vaccination card, or whatever you call it" will be dropped because he would "really love" to play in the United States. Coach Ivanisevic is already preparing for "long, hot summer holidays" - "from today until further notice," he said. Unless US President Joe Biden “changes his mind” and lets the unvaccinated Wimbledon winner enter the country.