It’s about the US Open
Djokovic decision has definitely been made
Novak Djokovic (35) hoped for a change in the situation in the USA so that he could enter and play at the US Open. He also relied on the help of US President Joe Biden (79) himself. But nothing will come of it now.
“I don’t think that an exception is realistic,” Novak Djokovic (35) recently told the Serbian TV station “RTS”. The tennis star meant his entry into the USA. And he was right about that: The Serb is not allowed to enter the USA and will therefore not fight for his 22nd Grand Slam title at the US Open.
“The US Open does not require vaccination for players, but will respect the US government’s position on the entry of unvaccinated non-US citizens,” said a statement from the tournament organizers.
“Djoker” hoped for Biden
Djokovic’s coach Goran Ivanisevic (50) had previously appealed to the US government, more precisely to President Joe Biden (79). “Maybe Biden will change his mind,” hoped the 2001 Wimbledon winner. “There are a lot of crazy things happening in the world. Something changes every day.”
What will not change, however, is Djokovic’s vaccination status. “I’m not vaccinated and I have no intention of getting vaccinated,” he said after his recent Wimbledon triumph.
Tennis legend John McEnroe has already campaigned for the 35-year-old to be allowed to enter the USA: “Let the guy in. Anything else is ridiculous.” Later, numerous tennis fans also petitioned the government to grant the Serbs an exception.
Online petition for exemption
“There is absolutely no reason at this point in the pandemic not to allow Djokovic to play the US Open 2022,” says the text of the petition on change.org. The government and the United States Tennis Association (USTA) must work together to make an exception possible. “If unvaccinated Americans are allowed to play, Djokovic, as one of the legends of the sport, must also be allowed to play.”
By Thursday morning, just over 21,600 signatures had come together. But that doesn’t help Djokovic anymore. (che)