World primary Novak Djokovic says he practically skipped the US Open however plans to play the Grand Slam occasion regardless of COVID-19 considerations partially to chase tennis historical past. Djokovic, a 17-time Grand Slam singles champion, informed the New York Instances that attempting to catch Roger Federer’s males’s file 20 Slam crowns was “in fact” a significant component in his determination to play the Flushing Meadows fortnight that begins August 31. “One of many explanation why I carry on enjoying skilled tennis on this degree is as a result of I need to attain extra heights within the tennis world,” Djokovic informed the newspaper.
The 33-year-old Serbian has received 5 of the previous seven males’s singles Slam crowns however got here to the New York hardcourts solely after assurances from European officers that gamers coming back from the US Open wouldn’t face a protracted quarantine earlier than upcoming European occasions such because the French Open.
“I used to be very near not coming,” stated Djokovic, who made the ultimate determination lower than every week earlier than arriving. “There have been a variety of uncertainties.”
Djokovic is staying at a rental home in New York whereas most gamers are in a lodge as a part of protocols to fight the COVID-19 pandemic that worn out most of the 12 months’s occasions, together with Wimbledon, and can forestall followers from attending the US Open.
“I need to play. I imply, that is why I am right here,” Djokovic informed the Instances.
“I’m personally not afraid of being in a dangerous, harmful well being state of affairs for myself. If I felt that method, I most definitely wouldn’t be right here.”
Federer, 39, is injured and Spain’s Rafal Nadal, 34, is absent, the 2019 US Open champion and 19-time Grand Slam singles winner specializing in the upcoming clay season and a possible 13th crown on the Paris pink clay.
Djokovic, who has topped the world rankings for 282 weeks, might overtake Federer’s file of 310 weeks at primary by March and informed the Instances that could be a main purpose as nicely.
Having Djokovic chase a fourth US Open crown provides some status to an Slam that lacks most of the sport’s largest stars.
“I can’t say it is the principle cause why I am right here, nevertheless it’s one of many causes,” Djokovic stated. “To start with, I’ve to consider myself and my well being and my health and whether or not my staff is OK to be right here.
“Then I, in fact, additionally felt accountable as a high participant to be right here. It is necessary for our sport to maintain going.”
Djokovic defends Adria Tour
Djokovic defended his determination to stage the Adria Tour charity collection in June in Serbia and Croatia, which produced a cluster of coronavirus circumstances, together with some amongst high gamers, with Djokovic constructive and isolating, saying he solely had gentle signs.
“We tried to do one thing with the precise intentions,” Djokovic stated. “Sure, there have been some steps that would have been performed otherwise. However am I going to be then without end blamed for doing a mistake?
“If I had the prospect to do the Adria Tour once more I might do it once more.”
Djokovic worries about placing something into his physique, together with doubtlessly a COVID-19 vaccine.
Promoted
“If somebody is forcing me to place one thing in my physique, that I do not need, for me that is unacceptable,” Djokovic informed the Instances.
“I’m not in opposition to vaccination of any form, as a result of who am I to talk about vaccines when there are folks which have been within the subject of drugs and saving lives around the globe?”
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