One of the world’s top ranked male tennis players will not be allowed to compete in the U.S. Open tennis tournament in August unless he agrees to receive a Covid-19 vaccine. Three-time U.S. Open champion Novak Djokovic will not be allowed in the country unless President Joe Biden eases up on entry restrictions for non-U.S. citizens seeking to enter the country without a Covid-19 vaccination.
Djokovic tested positive for Covid-19 last December. Many believe the natural immunity that occurs when one has experienced the virus is better than any immunity the vaccines can provide.
The tournament has no vaccine mandate, but will not allow unvaccinated foreign players to compete.
“The US Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, but it will respect the U.S. government’s position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-U.S. citizens,” read a statement from the tournament.
Djokovic will probably not be persuaded to get the shot, as he refused to do so earlier this year when the Australian Open forbade him from playing in that tournament after initially allowing the tennis great an exemption.
Asked by the BBC at the time why he felt so strongly about the subject, Djokovic said, “Because the principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else. I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can.”
Djokovic was able to defend his 2021 French Open title after France lifted most Covid-19 restrictions. He was also allowed to compete at Wimbledon earlier this month, where he won the championship in four sets over Australian Nick Krygios.
After winning Wimbledon, Djokovic reportedly said he was waiting “for some good news from U.S.A.” But that good news has not yet arrived. The U.S. Open is scheduled to begin in late August.
So, it appears that the current Wimbledon champion will not be allowed to compete in the U.S. Open due to Covid-19 restrictions.
President Biden could lift the restriction or declare a carve out for Djokovic but, currently, he is experiencing a bout with Covid-19 himself despite being fully vaccinated and “double boosted.” Biden is reported to be experiencing only mild symptoms.
Several Republican lawmakers have blasted the Biden administration for holding on to the draconian Covid-19 restrictions while many nations have, seemingly, returned to normal. Senator Ted Crux (R-Texas) called the vaccine travel ban “absurd” and accused Biden of “pushing for a forever pandemic” as a way of controlling the nation.
Representative Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) believes that Biden should overturn what he calls “this ridiculous mandate.”
“There has never been a moral argument for Covid vaccine mandates, and the scientific argument for Covid vaccine mandates evaporated when we found out it doesn’t even prevent the spread of the virus,” Massie said.
Some in the tennis world were supportive of Djokovic as well.
“These politicians are getting in the way too much,” said tennis legend John McEnroe. “Let’s let the guy come in and play in the US. I mean, come on, this is ridiculous.”
A change.org petition requesting the U.S. government to allow Djokovich to play has already garnered over 33,000 signatures.
“There is absolutely no reason at this stage of the pandemic to not allow Djokovic to play at the US Open 2022. US Government and USTA must work together to allow him to play. If unvaccinated American players can play, Djokovic as one of the legends of the game must be allowed to play. MAKE IT HAPPEN, USTA!”
Like Djokovic, many influential sports figures have declined to get the Covid-19 vaccines due to concerns about the under-tested medications. In the United States alone, football’s Aaron Rodgers, basketball’s Kyrie Irving, and boxing’s Floyd Mayweather are examples of high-profile individuals who would rather risk the wrath of vaccine pushers in the media than risk their finely tuned bodies on these suspicious “vaccines.”
“There is a lot of division in society, not only in sports, but in the whole of society, between those who have not been vaccinated and have been vaccinated,” Djokovic has said. “And that’s really scary. That we fell for discriminating against someone if he wants to decide for himself one way or another, whether he wants to be vaccinated or not.”
