Djokovic Not Allowed To Play In US Open Because He Hasn’t Had Covid Jabs

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Novak Djokovic

Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic won’t be allowed to play in the US Open because he has not had the experimental covid jabs.

Djokovic has been ruled out because the United States is still banning travel into the country for anyone who has not been vaccinated against covid-19.

Although the US Open organizers do not have a vaccine mandate in place, they say they are respecting the government’s rules on non-citizens being fully vaccinated in order to enter the country.

The Mail Online reports: Djokovic’s anti-vaccine stance has been well-documented. In January 2022, he was deported from Australia prior to the Open in Melbourne over his refusal to get vaccinated.

Following the drama Down Under, Djokovic, 35, said that he would not get the jab just to compete in tournaments.

The former world number one told the BBC in February that he had vaccines as a child and that he was not ‘against vaccinations.’

He added: ‘I’ve always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body.’

Djokovic was hopeful of competing in Flushing Meadows next month but won’t risk a repeat of the deportation furor he went through in Australia.

The Serbian superstar has won the US Open on three occasions.

He was named on the entry list for the final grand slam of the year on Wednesday, but that is routine, rather than an indication that he will be allowed to play.

The list is made up of the highest ranking players in the world. Djokovic is currently ranked seventh. He is only one major win away from tying with fellow legend Rafa Nadal for 22 major titles.

Djokovic said when asked about playing at the US Open: ‘I’m not going to go to America if I don’t have permission, so the Australian saga for me was not pleasant at all.

‘People still think I forced my way to Australia and tried to come in with no papers, permission or exemption – it is not true.

‘That was proven in the court cases, so I would never go into a country where I didn’t have permission to travel.

‘I would love to come back to Australia. I love Australia, I had my best Grand Slam results in that country.

‘Hopefully I can be there in January because I want to be there, and I also want to be in New York.

‘I want to be in America and everywhere I can possibly play.’

After his Wimbledon victory, Djokovic said that he was on ‘vacation.’ 

He added: ‘Whether or not I’m playing any tournament soon, I’ll definitely be resting for the next couple weeks because it has been quite an exhausting and demanding period for me the last few months.’

Over 17,000 signed a Change.org petition calling for the USTA and leaders in Washington to allow Novak Djokovic to compete, CNN reported. 

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