September 2021. Novak Djokovicchampion of the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon that same course, loses in US Open final against Daniil Medvedev (6-4, 6-4, 6-4) and, with Rod Laver’s plenary session slipping through his fingers, he broke down in tears in New York. “I’ve lost, yes, but I’m a happy man. Thank you for all the support you always give me. See you soon“, he laments before a packed center court. Just two months later, The United States Government announces thatsince then, All foreigners who want to enter the country must be vaccinated against Covid-19. The odyssey begins.
The Serbian tennis player, number one in the world at the time, keep silent about the newsConvinced by his ideals—opposed to governments around the world—he decides not to get vaccinated against the virus. Time passes, the turn of the year arrives and, like every January, the world of tennis moves to Melbourne to uncork the season at the Australian Open.
There, a few hours before the start of the tournament, and with Djokovic included in the men’s draw, The Australian Police detains the Belgrade man at the same Melbourne airport and cancels his visa for not being vaccinated against the coronavirus. After several hours of tension between the tennis player and the Australian Government, Djokovic comes face to face with reality and leaves the country without having played the first Grand Slam of the season.
To top, Rafael Nadal beat Daniil Medvedevwins the austral tournament with one of the best comebacks ever (2-6, 6-7, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5), and adds the twenty-second Grand Slam of his career, one more than Djokovic. A few days later, the Serbian loses the number one in the world and begins to move away from the privileged positions of the ranking due to his unvaccinated condition, which prevents him from participating in two of the four majors.
The 2022 academic year passes, summer arrives and the Government of the United States maintains the sanitary restrictions, for which Djokovicalready relegated to seventh place in the ranking, is left without participating in the US Open, which will end up opening Carlos Alcaraz’s locker. “Unfortunately I will not be able to play the US Open this year […]. I will stay in good shape, in a positive spirit and I will wait for the opportunity to compete again,” she wrote on his social media.
In 2023, everything changes for ‘Nole’
Last November, the Australian Government lifts its restrictions and, finally, after so long, luck smiles again at Djokovic. Already in January of the new year, the Serbian, unleashed in Melbourne, wins his tenth Australian Open and equals Nadal with 22 Grand Slams at the historical peak of men’s tennis.
The good news is already happening at the beginning of May, shortly before Roland Garros startsThe United States eliminates the restrictions that forced foreign citizens to be vaccinated against Covid to enter the country. At last, the Serbian could play the US Open.
Shortly after, already in Paris, the one from Belgrade overcomes Hurricane Alcaraz, come down to less in the semifinals, and crushes Casper Ruud in the final to lift his third Roland Garrosthe twenty-third major of his career, more than any other tennis player. The story then goes on to be read in Serbian.
Now, after losing to Alcaraz in the frenetic Wimbledon final, and 701 days after that fateful night against Medvedev in New York, Djokovic returns to the United States to finally dress short again. He will do it at the Cincinnati Masters 1000where he has already won in 2018 and 2020, and where he already signs his first autographs after two years of absence.
He will draw the racket first in doubleswhere he will debut on Monday with Nikola Čačić as a couple with the sole objective of picking up competition rhythm —will arrive after 42 days off the slopes, those that have passed since his defeat against Alcaraz in London. Two days later, on Wednesday, Djokovic will begin his career in the individual draw against a tennis player who will come out of the previous rounds. After, expected to have a tough road to the title: Davidovich or Etcheverry in the second round; Norrie, De Minaur or Monfils in third; Sinner or Fritz in the quarterfinals; Medvedev or Rune in the semifinals; and Alcaraz, presumably, in the final.
From the northern mountains of Madrid, Daniel studied Journalism and Audiovisual Communication at the Rey Juan Carlos University and now covers the information of the sports center in Relevo. Shortly after landing he traveled to the Davis Cup finals, although he insists on writing the definitive report on doping. Meanwhile, he writes about motorsports, athletics, tennis, cycling and many other Olympic sports. Passionate about well told stories. Before Relay, he went through El País, El Mundo, Ogilvy and the Libertad FM antenna. …
2023-08-13 05:50:53
#Tears #vaccine #controversies #Djokovic #returns #United #States #years
