【Text/Observer Network Wang Meng】
On August 25, 21 Grand Slam winner and three-time US Open champion Djokovic confirmed on his personal social media that he would not participate in the US Open in New York. Under U.S. Customs' immigration policy, Djokovic was unable to enter U.S. Customs because he had not been vaccinated against COVID-19.
CnN reported screenshot
According to CNN, under current U.S. rules, any non-U.S. citizen must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to obtain a visa and enter the United States. Djokovic's new crown vaccine, on the other hand, has not been given a single shot.
Djokovic, who has been infected with covid-19 twice, has always refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, arguing that he has never advocated "anti-vaccine". At the beginning of this year, Djokovic also caused a diplomatic storm between Australia and Serbia because of the "unvaccinated" issue of "medical exemption". The last two times were cancelled by the Australian government, deported, and did not qualify for the "Australian Open".
Later, as France and the United Kingdom eased entry and exit restrictions, Djokovic participated in the 2022 "French Open" and "Wimbledon" matches. Djokovic was held in the quarter-finals of the French Open, but he won his 21st Grand Slam title in the Wimbledon tournament.
On July 13, during an exhibition match in Vysoko, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Novak Djokovic passed the ball back. Pictured from the US media
However, "you are not allowed to come to New York without vaccination", and the world's top male tennis star did not have the opportunity to participate in this year's US Open.
Djokovic decided to retire on the morning of the "US Open" open draw (25th), and the director of the tournament, Tessie Alast, said in a statement that "it is very unfortunate".
According to the current U.S. immigration policy published by the US CDC, every non-immigrant non-U.S citizen flying to the United States must confirm that they have been fully vaccinated against the new crown virus, or provide a certificate that they can be exempted from the new crown vaccine.
A Chinese entry instructions issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The picture is from the official website of cdc in the United States
Djokovic is understood to have said he would rather miss the game than get vaccinated. He also withdrew from the Canadian Open earlier this month
The US Open said in a statement earlier this year that "players who violate U.S. travel restrictions are not allowed to participate in the tournament." On July 30, Djokovic posted a training video on his personal social platform and wrote "Preparer", as if full of confidence and expectation for the participation in the "US Open".
A statement released by the U.S. Open said "players who violate U.S. travel restrictions are not allowed to play." Pictured from the "US.com" website
According to the New York Times, Djokovic is the only top player in the men's singles of tennis who has not been vaccinated against COVID-19. The act was strongly condemned by other athletes, including his opponent Rafael Nadal, who was seen as Djokovic's "overly strong belief in individual freedom" in conflict with "scientific and international public health policy."
Djokovic, who did not qualify for the US Open, said on his personal social media: "I will continue to maintain my state and optimism. ”
Djokovic announced that he was "out of the WAY". Image from Twitter
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