"Ultimately Because of the COVID Vaccine"... Djokovic Withdraws from US Open Following Australia

Novak Djokovic Photo by AP Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] World-renowned male tennis player Novak Djokovic (Serbia) announced on the 25th (local time) that he will not participate in the US Open tennis tournament due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic participated in the French Open among the four major tennis tournaments and even won at Wimbledon in the UK, but he gave up participating in the Australian Open and US Open in January due to vaccination issues.

Djokovic announced via Twitter that he will not be able to attend the US Open tournament starting on the 29th in New York, USA. He stated, "Unfortunately, I will not be able to travel to New York to participate in the US Open," adding, "I will wait for the opportunity to compete again while maintaining good physical condition and a positive mindset."

The reason Djokovic is not participating in the US Open is that the United States mandates vaccination upon entry. Foreigners entering the US must be vaccinated and present proof of completion before boarding the plane. Djokovic has consistently refused vaccination, stating that vaccination should be a personal choice, and he has been diagnosed with COVID-19 twice.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) released a statement expressing regret over Djokovic's absence and said they look forward to his return in next year's tournament.

Djokovic was also unable to participate in the Australian Open in January due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19. At that time, Djokovic arrived at Melbourne Airport in Australia to participate in the tournament but was sent to quarantine facilities instead of his accommodation. After legal battles with the Australian federal government, he had to return to Serbia the day before the tournament started.

Accordingly, among the four major tennis tournaments, Djokovic participated in the May French Open and June Wimbledon held in France and the UK, where entry was possible without COVID-19 vaccination. Outside the four majors, Djokovic also missed the National Bank Open and Western & Southern Open ATP tours held in Canada and the US due to not being vaccinated.

Djokovic has won 21 major men's singles titles in total, ranking second in the most titles category, and is currently ranked 6th in the world. The record for the most titles is held by Rafael Nadal (Spain) with 22 wins. Djokovic won the US Open three times in 2011, 2015, and 2018. He was the runner-up in last year's tournament.

There was speculation that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) might ease entry requirements for foreigners ahead of the US Open, raising hopes for his participation, but he ultimately declared his absence from the US Open on this day.