Novak Djokovic does not intend to get the COVID-19 vaccine even if it means he will miss the 2022 U.S. Open in August.
The Serbian, who is currently ranked No. 7 in the world, is required to get immunized to enter the United States as a foreigner, as per U.S. regulations.
"I'm not vaccinated and I'm not planning to get vaccinated so the only good news I can have is them removing the mandated green vaccine card or whatever you call it to enter United States or exemption," Djokovic said Sunday after winning his fourth straight Wimbledon.
"I don't know. I don't think exemption is realistically possible. If that is possibility, I don't know what exemption would be about," he added.
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On Sunday, Djokovic won his seventh Wimbledon title and said he would like to compete in the American Slam.
"Then I'll wait hopefully for some good news from USA because I would really love to go there. That would be probably the next big tournament, the next big swing, playing a tournament or two before US Open and US Open. If that doesn't happen, then I have to see what the schedule will look like," Djokovic said.
Djokovic, who has had COVID-19 twice, said, “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.”
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Not playing the U.S. Open would mean Djokovic could only compete in two Grand Slams this year, as he was deported from Australia before the Australian Open in January due to his unvaccinated status.
