World No. 1 Novak Djokovic does not currently have any tournaments scheduled, according to his own website. “There are no events scheduled at this time,” reads Djokovic’s official page. Djokovic, 35, last played at Wimbledon, where he captured his 21st Grand Slam title.
After winning his seventh Wimbledon title, Djokovic returned home. Djokovic hoped that he would be allowed to compete at the US Open, but that scenario now seems highly unlikely. Djokovic has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and therefore was not allowed to enter Canada for the Montreal Masters or the United States for the Cincinnati Masters.
Now, Djokovic is likely to miss the US Open because he cannot enter the country due to his vaccination status. Djokovic has received a lot of endorsements in the last two months, including from American politicians. Several US senators denounced the rule that prevents Djokovic from entering the country, but the government of Joe Biden did not make the change that Djokovic expected.
Even Daniil Medvedev – the player who beat Djokovic in the US Open final last year – expressed his desire to see the Serb at Flushing Meadows this year. “Yes, of course,” Medvedev replied. “I can’t do anything.
It’s the government that sets the rules, so I don’t know if it can change or not. If they ask me, if I were the one to make the decision, of course, I want Novak to play.”
Laura Robson talks about Nole
Former British No 1 Laura Robson has made her pick for the US Open title – and she is not looking beyond defending champion Daniil Medvedev.
“With Novak Djokovic not there I’d go for Medvedev on the hard courts,” Robson told Tennis365 at a Play Your Way To Wimbledon event. “On hard courts and especially at the US Open where he got so much room on the big stadiums to get incredibly deep on returns and create so much time for himself… for New York I’d have Medvedev as favourite.”
Robson suggests the rules were never likely to be changed to allow the Serbian to play at the US Open. “There is something he could do about it, of course, but ultimately tennis is such a minor blip in the US government’s policy,” continued Robson.
“I can’t imagine that they will change it for one person, as nice as it would be for the tennis world. You would think (he would be favorite if he played). The way he came through at Wimbledon, he just never really looked in doubt. Every time he was in trouble he found another gear or five more gears.
