World’s Best Tennis Player Banned from US Open Over Vaccination Status
Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic will not be allowed to participate in the US Open this year because he is not vaccinated against COVID-19.
Djokovic did not participate in the 2021 US Open for the same reason. In January, he was blocked from the 2022 Australian Open and was deported from the country after attempts to reinstate his visa were denied. His ability to attend the 2023 French Open is still up in the air.
The United States Tennis Association (USTA) doesn’t have a vaccine mandate in place for players, but says it will obey the CDC’s requirement that all foreign travelers to the US be fully vaccinated before boarding flights.
“The only good news I can have is them revamping the mandated green vaccination card…to enter the US,” said Djokovic. “Based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine.”
Djokovic is the champion of four consecutive Wimbledon titles and is viewed by many as the greatest tennis player of all time.
His absence at the US Open reflects poorly on the USTA and will be a major disappointment for fans.
“Pretty shameful that the USTA won’t fight for an exemption for Novak,” tweeted Tennys Sandgren, an American tennis player who is allowed to participate in the US Open even though he is not vaccinated. “No surprise the government hasn’t changed its archaic policy. I can play but he can’t? Ridiculous.”
More than 12,000 people have signed a petition asking the USTA to make an exception for Djokovic.
“There is absolutely no reason at this stage of the pandemic to not allow Djokovic to play at the US Open 2022,” reads the petition. “US government and USTA Must work together to allow him to play. If unvaccinated American players can play, Djokovic as one of the legends of the game must be allowed to play.”
Source:
Good for him. I would tell them to eat my underwear
Cuz u like that. You say it often. But I bet you pump n run like a Hawley.
Such Woke nonsense keep the best and healthiest away.
Woke? I am not sure that you understand the meaning of this word. Jok and woke, yeah, right.
Jok is undoubtably one of the best tennis players ever and a joy to watch. His personal behavior though is abysmal, and has been abysmal throughout his career. Frankly, while everyone admires his skill on the court, not many people like him as a person. He is certainly not likable, based on his actions.
Chances are, even without playing in the U.S. Open this year, he will ultimately shatter all records, or at least the vast majority of them. Missing the U.S. Open will really not even change his legacy.
This time around the stupid bastard knowingly held a Covid rich unprotected tournament infecting many as well as all of the people in support of it. He has exhibited other behaviors that also put others at great risk during Covid. He’s a fool. This has nothing to do with free wilk, freedom of choice, or anything else beyond his own vanity.
Needless to say, the decision here has nothing to do with the USTA and everything to do with United States policies. If the US changes this policy, he can play. If he gets vaccinated, he can play. But today that policy stands, and it stands to anyone trying to travel into the US, and we should not change the rules just for a celebrity.
No one on the tour wants to play with an unvaccinated player. They have said so.
I think the bigger story is that Nadal had to pull out of Wimbledon. It easily could’ve won. There was a chance for him to take the grand slam. At his age, he will never get the chance again and that is a much sadder thing then Jok missing this open. I really hope that Nadal can make the open because I would like to see him have one last great retirement chance for a title. After that, of the old guard, Only jok will remain. And pending injury or Covid, we will see him again next year at the Australian, the French, Wimbledon and beyond.