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Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic can also miss the US Open later this year with his ‘unvaccinated’ status. After a change in the rules for international travelers to the United States, it looks like Djokovic won’t be able to take part in the last Grand Slam of the year. However, there is ample time left for a change in the situation; but, as of now, Djokovic missing the US Open is a certainty.
As the World No.3 has refrained from taking a vaccine against the COVID-19, Novak Djokovic may not get an entry into the United States at all. The authorities in the United States announced on Friday that international travelers would no longer require a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test to enter the country. However, the requirement for a 'full vaccination status' still stands with no indication of how long that rule will continue. This means that anyone from across the border will have to present a vaccination certificate (which Djokovic does not have) to get an entry into the country.
Novak Djokovic has clearly stated that he will not take any sort of vaccine against the coronavirus even if he has to miss all four major tournaments. "Yes, that is the price that I'm willing to pay...I was never against vaccination. But I've always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body. I understand that globally, everyone is trying to put a big effort into handling this virus and seeing, hopefully, an end soon to this virus," Djokovic had expressed in an interview after the Australian Open row.
Novak Djokovic has already missed the Australian Open over the same issue and will certainly miss the US Open if the rules don’t change in a couple of months. He also missed the first of two hardcourt tennis swings that take place in the US every year due to his unvaccinated status. The World No. 1 missed two ATP Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, where he has won a combined 11 titles.