Tennis legend John McEnroe required simply three phrases to sum up Novak Djokovic's 2022 season. The Serb missed two Grand Slam occasions - the Australian Open and the US Open - owing to his refusal to take Covid vaccination. He then didn't defend his French Open crown as he misplaced to eventual champion Rafael Nadal within the quarters earlier than reclaiming the Wimbledon title. McEnroe, who was left upset at Djokovic lacking so many occasions this yr, referred to as his 2022 season “trainwreck of trainwrecks”.
Djokovic patiently waited for his alternative on the US Open and had a glimmer of hope owing to leisure of guidelines, however needed to withdraw simply hours earlier than the announcement of the boys's singles draw because the Centre for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that unvaccinated foreigners is not going to be allowed to enter the nation.
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Talking to Eurosport on the primary day at Flushing Meadows, McEnroe referred to as the whole saga a "joke" as he questioned the logic behind the rule.
“Let’s not neglect he was unvaccinated final yr, so that you’ve obtained to clarify to me why he was unvaccinated and performed final yr and now he’s unvaccinated and might’t play," he mentioned.
“Both manner it’s a joke in my view. It’s unhappy. That’s what it's. Me personally, I’ve been vaccinated, I obtained boosted. If I had been him - and I’m not him, that’s most likely why he’s gained 21 [Grand Slams] and I gained seven, due to his perception in himself and his willingness to simply do what he believes is greatest for him.
“However he’s giving up loads clearly by making this stand. I respect it, but it surely’s actually unlucky. His yr has been the trainwreck of trainwrecks. Thank God he gained Wimbledon.”
However, Djokovic has a busy September forward of him. He'll play a Davis Cup tie towards Spain earlier than enjoying alongside Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray within the Laver Cup.
“[This year] took him from Australia, the place he was tossed out, to recovering to some extent on the French Open, after which successful Wimbledon, and also you’re like ‘okay, come to the US Open, possibly you might be No.1 on the planet?’ However they don’t even let him play. I can’t imagine it," McEnroe added.
“Couldn’t he have gotten an exemption? However then once more he obtained that in Australia and so they tossed him out. Are you able to think about the debacle right here!”
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