Novak Djokovic to play Wimbledon 2022
The organising body of Wimbledon has confirmed that players who are not vaccinated for Covid-19 will be allowed to compete in this year's tournament. The decision has cleared the way for Novak Djokovic to defend his title.
Novak will play WimbledonNovak Djokovic is the reigning champion at Wimbledon. He has previously won the tournament in 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, and 2021 by beating Matteo Berrettini last July. The World No. 1 was denied the opportunity to defend his Australian Open title earlier this year after being deported from Australia due to his unvaccinated status.
Earlier this year, Novak Djokovic said that he would be willing to skip tournaments if they had a mandatory covid-19 vaccination requirement. Wimbledon officials confirmed on April 26 that the 34-year-old Serb would be able to compete in the grand slam tournament without being vaccinated.
Sally Bolton, the chief executive of the All England Club, said, "The requirements set out by the government to enter the UK do not include mandatory vaccination; therefore, whilst, of course, it is encouraged, it will not be a condition of entry to compete at the Championships this year.
Novak Djokovic will now be free to defend his Wimbledon title this year, aiming to win the tournament for the seventh time since defeating Italy's Matteo Berrettini in the final last year. He should now be free to play a full schedule with most nations relaxing their rules worldwide, having just played in three tournaments this year. However, he is currently still unable to enter the USA due to their mandatory vaccination policy for entering the country.
Hopes of winning Wimbledon
Although he lacks victories in the 2022 tennis season, tennis commentator Barry Cowen has expressed that Novak Djokovic is his favourite to win the tournament this summer.
In a statement given to Sky News, Barry Cowen said, "I think any tournament 'needs Djokovic', any tournament 'needs (Rafael) Nadal', any tournament 'needs (Roger) Federer', any tournament 'needs Serena Williams'," he told Sky Sports.
"Let's hope to have a great, positive story at Wimbledon with these players. We have seen Novak play some great matches in the past and last year, what he achieved again, was remarkable. He is undercooked at the moment.
It will be his seventh Wimbledon title if he wins the 2022 Wimbledon, set to take place from June 27 to July 10.
Novak Djokovic condemns Wimbledon's ban on Russian tennis players.
The Serb called the ban on the athletes from Belarus and Russia competing in Wimbledon "crazy" on April 28, a day after the measure was announced following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
While speaking to reporters at Belgrade Open, Novak Djokovic said, "I think it's crazy, when politics interfere with sport, the result is not good."
"I will always condemn war. I will never support a war, being myself a child of war. I know how much emotional trauma it leaves. In Serbia, we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans, we have had many wars in recent history.