Djokovic misses U.S. Open due to lack of COVID-19 vaccination
The Hindu
It is the second Grand Slam the 35-year-old Novak Djokovic will miss due to being unvaccinated
Former men's world number one Novak Djokovic said he will not play in the U.S. Open which begins on Monday as Covid protocols mean he cannot travel to the United States.
It is the second Grand Slam the 35-year-old Serb will miss due to not being vaccinated as he was deported prior to the Australian Open earlier this year.
"Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open," tweeted Djokovic, a three-time U.S. Open champion.
Djokovic's announcement, which was widely anticipated, came hours before the draw for the final slam of the season.
Tennis legend John McEnroe has blasted the Djokovic ban as a "joke"
"At this point, in the pandemic, we're two and a half years in, I think people in all parts of the world know more about it, and the idea that he can't travel here to play, to me is a joke," said McEnroe.
Ironically, during the height of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, Djokovic was allowed to compete at New York where he was champion in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
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