Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic out of U.S. Open, can't travel to America

Novak Djokovic will not play in the US Open, as expected, because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is therefore not allowed to travel to the United States.

Djokovic announced his withdrawal from this year’s last Grand Slam tournament on Twitter on Thursday, hours before the event’s draw was revealed.

“Unfortunately, I will not be able to travel to New York this time to participate in the US Open,” Djokovic wrote, wishing his fellow players success, and said that he would “remain in good shape and in a positive spirit and wait for the opportunity to compete again.”

Play is scheduled to begin at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

Djokovic is 35 years old from Serbia and holds 21 major championships, one behind Rafael Nadal for the men’s record. Three of Djokovic’s slam cups came at the US Open in 2011, 2015 and 2018.

Unfortunately, I won’t be able to travel to New York this time for the US Open. Thank you #NoleFam For messages of love and support. ❤️ Good luck to my fellow players! I will stay in good shape and in a positive spirit and will wait for an opportunity to compete again. 💪🏼 See you soon tennis world! 👋🏼

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He was also runner-up there six times, including last season, when his quest for the first calendar year’s major championship in men’s tennis since 1969 ended in a loss in the final to Daniil Medvedev.

Foreign nationals who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 are currently unable to enter the United States or Canada, and Djokovic said he won’t get the shots, even if that prevents him from playing in certain tournaments.

The US Tennis Association has said it will at all times follow government rules on the state of vaccination for this year’s tournament. There is no vaccine mandate in the tournament for players or their support teams – which means an unvaccinated American will be allowed to compete – and spectators will not be required to wear masks.

“Novak is a great champion and it is very unfortunate that he will not be able to compete in the 2022 US Open, as he is unable to enter the country due to the federal government’s vaccination policy for non-US citizens,” said Stacey Alastair. Director of the US Open. “We look forward to welcoming Novak back to the 2023 US Open.”

Statement from the US Open: pic.twitter.com/E5ijwpkKjS

–usopen

Djokovic missed the Australian Open in January after a lengthy legal saga that ended with him being deported from that country because he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19. He also participated in four important North American tournaments in 2022, including in Montreal and Cincinnati recently.

He played at the French Open, where he lost in the quarter-finals to Nadal, and at Wimbledon, where Djokovic won the title.

Watch | Djokovic won his seventh Wimbledon title, and his 21st Grand Slam title:

Djokovic defeats Kyrgios at seventh Wimbledon

The top seeded star won his fourth consecutive Wimbledon title by defeating Nick Kyrgios 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3).

After defeating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final on July 10, Djokovic said he “would like” to participate in the last Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows, but also admitted “I don’t plan to get vaccinated”.

About three weeks later, Djokovic posted on social media that he was hoping for a chance to play at the US Open, writing: “I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I wait to hear if there is any room for me to travel to. United States. Fingers crossed!”

Djokovic has spent more weeks at number one than anyone else in the history of the ATP rankings. It’s number 6 this week, in part because no ranking points were awarded at Wimbledon this year.

Other players who will not participate in the US Open for various reasons include second seed Alexander Zverev, and the 2020 runner-up in New York. 2016 champion Angelique Kerber; 2019 French Open finalist Markta Vondrosova; Gael Monfils and Riley Opelka.

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