Djokovic, even further from the US Open

Things continue as they were between Novak Djokovic and the US Open.

That is to say, today, the chances of the Serbian contesting the next edition of the great New Yorker are nil, but in the face of any type of speculation, gossip or dialectic maneuver of one or another actor -be it the tennis player, the environment or who knows if of some government, as happened during the grotesque episode in January in Australia, the organization of the tournament wanted to anticipate.

That is, Nole will not be able to compete from August 29 to September 11 on the Flushing Meadows tracks because the United States health regulations say so.

Without a complete vaccination certificate against covid, no one, whatever their name is and whatever they have won, can enter the country, much less participate in a sporting event.

Faced with the runrún and the hypotheses that may arise from here at the beginning of the tournament, the United States Tennis Federation (USTA) issued this Thursday a clear statement in which it directly addresses government guidelines, thus trying to avoid the situation that occurred at the beginning of the year in Melbourne, where Djokovic traveled because the direction of the Australian Open guaranteed him entry;

however, while trying to cross customs, the athlete ran into the law and was detained twice before being deported.

Taking into account the precedent, the US Open, the last

of the course, prefers to avoid any type of confusion.

More information

London reinvigorates Sir Novak Djokovic

"The Grand Slams regulations state that all eligible players enter the men's and women's singles draw based on the

published 42 days before the first Monday of the tournament," the USTA note introduces.

"The US Open does not have a specific vaccination regulation established for tennis players, but we respect the position of the United States government on travel to the country by unvaccinated foreign citizens," adds the text, coming to say that beyond of what they think, the organizers, the sanitary rule prevails.

This says that anyone who wishes to enter the North American country must be vaccinated, an option that Djokovic does not contemplate.

The 35-year-old Balkan was blunt after winning his 21st major on the 10th at Wimbledon.

“I have not been vaccinated and I do not plan to do so.

I don't think getting a waiver is realistic,” he stated;

I'm on vacation, yes.

Whether or not I'm playing soon, I need to rest for at least a couple of weeks because it's been quite an exhausting period.

Then I'll hopefully wait for good news from there [US].

I'm not going to get overwhelmed by playing tournaments and getting points”.

The remote way of exemption

The following week, as part of an exhibition in Bosnia, the former number one influenced his position.

“I am a tennis player, I do not want to enter politics.

As I have said from the beginning, I only defend individual freedom.

I will not travel to the United States if I do not have a fully clear exemption.

What happened in Melbourne was not pleasant at all and there are those who think that I forced things, but I did not.

I would simply like people to respect my position;

If in the end I have the exemption, it would be great, but if not, it would not be the end of the world”, continued Nole, who will also not be able to compete in the Masters 1000 in Montreal (August 7-14) or Cincinnati (15-21), for which is exposed to a stay of two months in the reserve.

At the beginning of this 2022 he was already 80 days on the sidelines, although later the modification of the French regulations opened the doors of Roland Garros.

There he collided with Rafael Nadal in the quarters, and then redeemed himself at Wimbledon, redemptive territory for him once again.

Djokovic offers the Wimbledon trophy to fans from the Belgrade City Hall. ZORANA JEVTIC (REUTERS)

These days, speculation about his attendance in New York is growing, and even more so when his name appeared on the tournament's entry list.

Nothing new, a formalism.

As in all great events, the figures are pre-registered and then maneuver according to their pretensions or, in the case of Djokovic, events.

“If they authorize it, I will be there,” he says, while stressing that the dose will not be injected to combat the effects of the coronavirus, from which he has been infected at least a couple of times.

"No, I don't feel the need to do it," he repeats over and over again, faithful to his convictions and also without giving in despite the gale that has engulfed him since January.

Meanwhile, from their circle they need.

“Right now there is more chance that I will be invited to Umag [a tournament in Croatia], that Novak can play in New York.

The tournament itself does not cause problems, but in this type of situation the politics of each country rule”, explains his coach, Goran Ivanisevic, also on “vacation” because probably his player – finalist last year and three-time New York champion – will not return. intervene on the circuit until mid-September, when the group stage of the Davis Cup is played against Serbia.

WINK OF THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN

BC |

Madrid

Meanwhile, from Australia, where the tennis player theoretically still cannot return unless the authorities lift the punishment that weighs on him, comes the conciliatory attitude of the director of the Australian Open, Craig Tiley.

“Allowing him to play is not a decision for us, but Djokovic will always be welcome here.

He knows very well that we Aussies love to see him play in our tournament.

There is still a lot of time left, he must enjoy what he got again in London.

He did a magnificent job at Wimbledon”, the manager ingratiates himself.

The Czech Renata Voracova (38 years old, 102nd in the world) experienced a similar episode in Melbourne – she was arrested and deported, but unlike the Balkan, she did not claim – and has already recovered her visa, according to

newspaper . 

Meanwhile, tennis fans have already collected more than 14,000 signatures through the change.org platform so that he can play in New York, and Djokovic is enjoying a few days off.

He sees the option of playing in the United States more and more distant and, therefore, of equaling Nadal's 22 majors, placing the Spaniard at the historical pinnacle of men's tennis.

You can follow EL PAÍS Deportes on