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Djokovic Out of U.S. Open For Refusing to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
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The U.S. Open has confirmed that Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic will not be allowed to compete due to his refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
In a statement released Wednesday, July 20, the U.S. Open explained that they had to follow the U.S. government’s rules on keeping unvaccinated non-U.S. citizens out of the country. Typically, the organizers said, eligible players are automatically seeded into the tournament, but they were unable to include Djokovic.
The statement read;
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.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants traveling to the country by air are required to show proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 before flying from a foreign country to the U.S.
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Given that Djokovic, 35, has repeatedly expressed that he will not take the vaccine, he would not be allowed in the country.
Unsure Future
35-year-old Djokovic said;
I’m not vaccinated and I’m not planning to get vaccinated so the only good news I can have is them removing the mandated green vaccine card or whatever you call it to enter the United States or exemption.
I don’t know. I don’t think exemption is realistically possible. If that is a possibility, I don’t know what [an] exemption would be about.
This would not be the first time Djokovic is unable to compete due to his refusal to get a COVID-19 vaccine. In January, Djokovic was deported from Australia because of his vaccine status and could not play in the Australian Open, the year’s first Grand Slam tournament.
Wimbledon did not make COVID-19 vaccination mandatory in order to participate in this year’s tournament, enabling Djokovic to enter and eventually win. But he remains unable to play in the 2023 Australian Open since he is not eligible for a visa in the country, leaving the tennis star out of the next two major tournaments.
Djokovic slid to No. 7 in the ATP world rankings after Wimbledon in part because he wasn’t allowed to play at the Australian Open, and the Serbian star’s ranking is likely to fall further now that he won’t be playing at the U.S. Open.
He has won 21 Grand Slam titles in his career and stands just one behind Spain’s Rafael Nadal for the all-time record.
The U.S. Open begins on August 29 and runs through Sept. 11 in New York City.
Sports
Sports Update?UEL: Wonderful, fantastic player – Joe Cole hails Arsenal star after latest win
Former England midfielder Joe Cole has spoken glowingly of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka after the 21-year-old helped the Gunners secure their 11th win from 12 games this season. Saka’s goal in the Europa League on Thursday helped Arsenal beat Bodo-Glimt and Cole sees the England star as a ‘wonderful player.’ Cole, a former England midfielder, noted […]
UEL: Wonderful, fantastic player – Joe Cole hails Arsenal star after latest win
Former England midfielder Joe Cole has spoken glowingly of Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka after the 21-year-old helped the Gunners secure their 11th win from 12 games this season.
Saka’s goal in the Europa League on Thursday helped Arsenal beat Bodo-Glimt and Cole sees the England star as a ‘wonderful player.’
Cole, a former England midfielder, noted that Saka has a wonderful combination of speed and ball control.
Cole said on BT Sport, “He’s a wonderful player and every time I SEE him he’s improving.”
He noted that at a very young age, the England winger is already a leader on the pitch, describing the 21-year-old as a gem.
“He’s a fantastic footballer and one Arsenal need to tie down and build a team around.”
Arsenal have not dropped a point in the Europa League this season, winning their first three matches.
UEL: Wonderful, fantastic player – Joe Cole hails Arsenal star after latest win
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Sports News?CAF Champions League: Rivers United arrive Morocco for Wydad clash
Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Rivers United have arrived Morocco ahead of their CAF Champions League first round second leg clash against Wydad Athletic Club. A 35-man contingent consisting of players and officials of the club arrived the Mohamed V International Airport late Thursday night after a brief stopover in Cotonou, Benin Republic. Rivers United […]
CAF Champions League: Rivers United arrive Morocco for Wydad clash
Nigeria Professional Football League champions, Rivers United have arrived Morocco ahead of their CAF Champions League first round second leg clash against Wydad Athletic Club.
A 35-man contingent consisting of players and officials of the club arrived the Mohamed V International Airport late Thursday night after a brief stopover in Cotonou, Benin Republic.
Rivers United head into the game with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg.
Sunday’s encounter will hold at the 67,000 capacity Mohammed V Stadium, Casablanca.
The game will kick-off at at 7pm Nigeria time.
Nigeria’s other representative in the competition, Plateau United will be up against Esperance of Tunisia on Saturday.
CAF Champions League: Rivers United arrive Morocco for Wydad clash
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Sports Update?UEL: He’s just different class – Martin Keown singles out Arsenal star after latest win
Martin Keown has hailed Bukayo Saka, saying the England star has gone to another level in football. Arsenal beat Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday as they continue their fine run of form this season and Keown believes Saka has been actively involved. The England international scored his fourth goal of the season to […]
UEL: He’s just different class – Martin Keown singles out Arsenal star after latest win
Martin Keown has hailed Bukayo Saka, saying the England star has gone to another level in football.
Arsenal beat Bodo/Glimt in the Europa League on Thursday as they continue their fine run of form this season and Keown believes Saka has been actively involved.
The England international scored his fourth goal of the season to put the Gunners ahead against Bodo/Glimt in Norway.
“When you get the ball to players like Bukayo Saka… he’s just different class at the moment this fella. He’s got the full-back on toast tonight,” Keown told BT Sport
“It was a great run for the goal, obviously he gets lucky, but it’s brilliant how he gets into that area. He’s gone to another level.”
UEL: He’s just different class – Martin Keown singles out Arsenal star after latest win