US Open branded ‘shameful’ for not doing more to help Novak Djokovic
The USTA have been told by one ATP player that they should be ‘ashamed’ of not doing more to help Novak Djokovic play the US Open this year.
Djokovic is not vaccinated against Covid-19, and so he does not qualify for entry into the United States at the moment.
He was unable to play the Sunshine Double of the Miami Open and Indian Wells earlier this year for the same reason, and he is now in danger of missing the whole US hardcourt swing too.
The US Open have announced they will not follow Wimbledon and ban players from Russia and Belarus, which is good news for defending champion Daniil Medvedev.
However, they have also confirmed they will not be seeking an exemption for unvaccinated players from the government, meaning unless there is a policy change within government, Djokovic will not be able to play the tournament.
Tennys Sandgren shares Djokovic’s caution with regard vaccination, and he says it is unfair that he can pay yet the Serbian cannot.
Pretty shameful that the USTA won’t fight for an exemption for Novak
No surprise the government hasn’t changed it’s archaic policy
I can play but he can’t? Ridiculous
— Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) June 16, 2022
“Pretty shameful that the USTA won’t fight for an exemption for Novak Djokovic,” Sandgren said on Twitter.
“No surprise the government hasn’t changed it’s archaic policy. I can play but he can’t? Ridiculous.
Djokovic will also not be allowed to play the Cincinnati Masters should he wish to play it under the current policy.
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