Novak Djokovic’s participation in US Open 2023 hangs within the steadiness due to his unvaccinated standing towards Covid-19 (AP Photo)
Novak Djokovic has been ‘welcomed’ to take part within the US Open after being denied entry in USA due to his unvaccinated standing
After Novak Djokovic withdrew from tournaments in Florida and California as a result of he nonetheless can’t journey to the United States as a international citizen who is just not vaccinated towards COVID-19, a U.S. Tennis Association spokesman mentioned Saturday the group is “very hopeful” the top-ranked participant shall be allowed into the nation for the U.S. Open in August.
“Policies concerning access to the United States are determined by the White House. We are very hopeful that the policy preventing Novak Djokovic from entering the United States will be rescinded, or lapse, in the near future,” the USTA’s Chris Widmaier wrote to The Associated Press.
“No COVID-19 restrictions are in place at the U.S. Open for any player, fan or other attendee. Novak, one of our sport’s great champions, would be welcome to compete at the 2023 U.S. Open.”
The two-week U.S. Open begins in Flushing Meadows on Aug. 28.
Djokovic, a 35-year-old from Serbia, was unable to get to New York for the season’s final Grand Slam event in 2022 when he additionally missed the Miami Open and BNP Paribas Open as a result of he by no means obtained the photographs for the sickness brought on by the coronavirus.
A six-time Miami Open champion, Djokovic is out of the sphere for the occasion that begins subsequent week, a spokesman for the Miami Open mentioned Saturday.
Djokovic is No. 1 within the ATP rankings and is tied with Rafael Nadal — who’s injured and likewise gained’t be in Miami — at 22 Grand Slam titles, the report for many gained by a person. In 2023, Djokovic is 15-1 with two titles, together with at the Australian Open in January.
But he’ll now have missed the primary two Masters 1000 occasions of the season. He additionally pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, which ends this weekend.
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Back in April 2020, because the pandemic raged, Djokovic mentioned he was opposed to needing to be vaccinated to journey. He later mentioned he wouldn’t get inoculated even when it meant lacking tournaments.
In January 2022, he tried to get an exemption to compete at the Australian Open and travelled to Melbourne. But after his case went to courtroom, his visa was revoked and Djokovic was deported from the nation.
Pandemic restrictions have been eased in Australia since, and Djokovic returned this yr with no downside and gained the season’s first main championship.
Meanwhile, Nadal has been sidelined since hurting his left hip flexor throughout a second-round loss at Melbourne Park. He is aiming to return to motion at the Monte Carlo Masters subsequent month.
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(This story has not been edited by News18 employees and is printed from a syndicated information company feed)
