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Novak DjokovicChildren's Health Defense

(LifeSiteNews) – Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic shared Sunday that he steadfastly refuses to get the COVID vaccine and is prepared to sit out the upcoming U.S. Open due to his vax status.

“I’m not vaccinated and I’m not planning to get vaccinated, so the only good news I can have is [the U.S.] removing the mandated vaccine card … to enter [the] United States, or [an] exemption,” Djokovic told a reporter after his victory in the Wimbledon men’s singles final over Nick Kyrgios for his fourth straight title.

“I don’t think exemption is realistically possible or if it is a possibility I don’t know what the exemption would be about,” Djokovic continued, adding that he doesn’t “have much answers” on the matter, and that the only way he can see himself participating in the U.S. Open is if the COVID vaccine requirement is removed “in time for me to get to USA.”

Djokovic remains enthusiastic about the prospect of being able to participate, however.

“I’ll wait for some good news from the USA because I would really love to go there,” he said.

The U.S. government requires that all incoming non-U.S. citizens receive a full set of COVID-19 shots.

Djokovic has already had to withdraw from several other tournaments due to his COVID jab-free status. Most famously, he was ultimately prevented from playing in the Australian Open after a hard-fought battle to stay in the country, when he was deported for fear he would inspire “anti-vaccination sentiment” in Australia.

At the prospect of exclusion from many major tournaments to the detriment of his career record, the Serbian athlete simply stated that’s “the price I am willing to pay.”

Asked if he was willing to give up his chance to hold the most coveted records in tennis history and become the greatest player “statistically” to have played the game professionally, Djokovic said “Yes.”

“The principles of decision-making on my own body are more important than any title,” he said.

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