- Tuesday, April 30, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
Ace tennis player Novak Djokovic is currently focusing on training in Belgrade in his own country Serbia after being denied entry to the US to play in the Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open.
The 35-year-old, who won the Australian Open in January to equal the most Grand Slam titles of Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, last played competitive tennis at the Dubai Tennis Championships earlier in March where he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals. He was then set to visit the US to take part in the ‘Sunshine Double’ but was denied a visa because of his unvaccinated status on Covid-19.
He has thereafter focused on the next big one — the French Open — which will start in May, where he could be facing a steep challenge from Nadal while trying to go one better in Grand Slam title tally. Nadal has a record 14 titles in the clay court as against Djokovic’s two.
Last month, Djokovic said he would love to take on the Spaniard in the final of the French Open this year, saying, “The rivalry that counts the most matches in the history of any rivalry in tennis. I would like to meet in the Roland Garros final, if I could choose, I believe we would both sign it now,” the Daily Express reported.
Djokovic also lost his No.1 ranking to teenage sensation Carlos Alcaraz, who is also from Spain. The Serb lost the spot as he was absent in the US tournaments while Alcaraz went on to win the Indian Wells.
The veteran, however, said that he has “no regrets” and is hopeful that the vaccination rule will change and he would be allowed to play in the US Open 2023.
Djokovic missed the US Open last year and the crown was lifted by Alcaraz.
