New York, Aug. 25 (BUS): Novak Djokovic will not play in the US Open as expected because he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is therefore not allowed to travel to the United States.
Djokovic announced his withdrawal from this year’s last Grand Slam tournament on Twitter Thursday, hours before the event’s draw was revealed, according to the Associated Press.
“Unfortunately, I will not be able to travel to New York this time to participate in the US Open,” said Djokovic, wishing his fellow players luck, “he will maintain his fitness and positive spirit, and wait for the opportunity to compete again.”
Play is scheduled to begin at Flushing Meadows on Monday.
Djokovic is 35 years old from Serbia and holds 21 major championships, one behind Rafael Nadal for the men’s record. Three of Djokovic’s slam cups came at the US Open in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
He has also been runner-up there six times, including last season, when his quest for the first calendar year major championship in men’s tennis since 1969 ended with Daniil Medvedev losing in the final.
Foreign nationals who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 are currently unable to enter the United States or Canada, and Djokovic said he won’t get the shots, even if that prevents him from playing in certain tournaments.
The US Tennis Association has said it will at all times follow government rules on the state of vaccination for this year’s tournament.
There is no vaccine mandate in the tournament for players or their support teams – which means an unvaccinated American will be allowed to compete – and spectators will not be required to wear masks.
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