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Novak Djokovic's telling message amid US Open drama: 'Fingers crossed'

Novak Djokovic (pictured) walks out at the US Open.
Novak Djokovic (pictured) said he still hopes he will be able to take par tin the US Open after he was seen training just in case he was granted an exemption into the country. (Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic has signalled he still holds hope that he will be granted an exemption to play at the US Open after telling fans he hasn't given up hope.

Djokovic recently won his first grand slam of 2022 after his historic triumph at Wimbledon against Aussie Nick Kyrgios in the final.

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However, following the grand slam in London, the three-time US Open winner admitted it was most likely his last grand slam tournament of the year.

The Wimbledon champ reaffirmed he wouldn't be getting vaccinated in order to play tennis with unvaccinated travellers restricted from entering the US.

"I'm not vaccinated and I'm not planning to get vaccinated so the only good news I can have is them removing the mandated green vaccine card or whatever you call it to enter United States or exemption," Djokovic said.

"I don't know. I don't think exemption is realistically possible. If that is possibility, I don't know what exemption would be about. I don't know. I don't have much answers there."

While Djokovic's comments about the exemption raised eyebrows, US Open officials released a statement this month and clarified that they will not seek special treatment for the World No.7.

Despite the setbacks, Djokovic posted a video of himself training hard.

Following lots of comments, the World No.7 thanked his fan for the support and said he was still training in the hope he could play the US Open.

"I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to US," Djokovic said in a post on Instagram along with a video of him practising.

"Fingers crossed!"

More than 43,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to work with the US government to allow 21-times major champion Djokovic to compete in the US Open.

Novak Djokovic comments on Australian Open ordeal

Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles last year but was unable to defend his Melbourne Park crown this year after being deported from Australia over his vaccination status in January.

Despite the ordeal, he recently spoke about his wishes to return to Melboune.

The Australian federal government has since gotten rid of a policy that requires overseas visitors to show proof of vaccination to enter Australia, however Djokovic's cancelled visa also comes with a three-year ban from the country.

However the three-year ban is likely to be waived in light of the looser restrictions now in place, opening the door for Djokovic to compete at the Australian Open.

Novak Djokovic (pictured) speaks to press after an exhibition match in Serbia.
Novak Djokovic (pictured) hasn't given up hope he will participate at the US Open. (Photo by ELVIS BARUKCIC/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking to reporters as he opened a tennis centre in Bosnia, Djokovic said he held no ill-will against Australia and was holding hope of being allowed back into the country.

“I was deported from the country to which I would like to come back,” he said.

“I would love to come back to Australia. I love Australia, I had my best grand slam results in that country.

“Hopefully in January I can be there because I want to be there, and I also want to be in New York. I want to be in America, I want to be everywhere I can possibly play.

“I am a professional tennis player, I don’t go into politics or anything else because that doesn’t interest me."

with AAP

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