After Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from vital tournaments in Florida and California on account of his incapability to journey to the United States as an unvaccinated international citizen, a U.S. Tennis Association spokesperson expressed their optimism Saturday that the world’s No. 1 can be granted entry to the nation for August’s U.S. Open.
“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 We are very hopeful that the policy preventing Novak Djokovic from entering the United States will be rescinded, or lapse, soon,” the USTA’s Chris Widmaier stated. “No COVID-19 restrictions are in place at the U.S. Open for any player, fan or other attendees. 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, couldn’t 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 acquired the photographs for the sickness attributable to the coronavirus.
A six-time Miami Open champion, Djokovic is out of the sector for the occasion that begins subsequent week, a spokesperson for the Miami Open stated Saturday.
Djokovic is No. 1 within the ATP rankings and is tied with Rafael Nadal – who’s injured and received’t be in Miami – at 22 Grand Slam titles, the report for many received by a person. In 2023, Djokovic is 15-1 with two titles, together with on the Australian Open in January.
But he’ll now have missed the primary two Masters 1000 occasions of the season. He additionally left the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, which ends this weekend.
Back in April 2020, because the pandemic raged, Djokovic stated he opposed needing to be vaccinated to journey. He later stated he wouldn’t get inoculated even when it meant lacking tournaments.
In January 2022, he tried to get an exemption to compete on the Australian Open and traveled to Melbourne. But his visa was revoked after his case went to courtroom, and Djokovic was deported.
Pandemic restrictions have been eased in Australia since, and Djokovic returned this 12 months and not using a downside and received 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 goals to return to motion on the Monte Carlo Masters subsequent month.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
