Novak Djokovic hopes he can play at the US Open

Novak Djokovic hopes he can play at the US Open

Novak Djokovic is hoping he can play at the US Open despite strict entry requirements for the unvaccinated, but the Serbian star won’t risk a repeat of the Australian Open’s deportation furore by traveling to New York without a permit

  • The unvaccinated Novak Djokovic will not play at the US Open next month as things stand
  • The United States only allows unvaccinated citizens to enter the country
  • Djokovic hopes to play in New York but won’t travel there without a permit
  • He was flown out of Australia in January after breaking strict Covid rules
  • The Serb has just won his 21st Grand Slam title at Wimbledon – a record

Novak Djokovic hopes to compete in the US Open next month but doesn’t risk a repeat of the deportation furore he endured in Australia.

The unvaccinated tennis star was booted out of Australia back in January ahead of the Melbourne Slam after the government ruled he had broken strict Covid-19 regulations and he failed with a legal challenge.

And Djokovic, who has just won his 21st career slam at Wimbledon, risks a replay ahead of Flushing Meadows as the United States bars unvaccinated non-citizens from entering the country.

Novak Djokovic, who won Wimbledon last week, is hoping to play at the US Open

Novak Djokovic, who won Wimbledon last week, is hoping to play at the US Open

The unvaccinated tennis player was expelled from Australia ahead of the slam there in January

The unvaccinated tennis player was expelled from Australia ahead of the slam there in January

Opening a tennis complex in the Bosnian town of Visoko, Djokovic said: “I will not go to America unless I have permission, so the Australian saga was not comfortable for me at all.

“People still think I fought my way to Australia and tried to enter without papers, permits or exemptions – that’s not true.

“It was proven in the court cases, so I would never go to a country where I didn’t have permission to travel.

“I would like to return to Australia. I love Australia, I had my best Grand Slam results in this country.

“Hopefully I can be there in January because I want to be there and I want to be in New York too.

“I want to be in America and anywhere I can play.”

Djokovic said he hopes to play the US Open in New York but is not guaranteed

Djokovic said he hopes to play the US Open in New York but is not guaranteed

He spoke when he opened a regional tennis center in the Bosnian town of Visoko

He spoke when he opened a regional tennis center in the Bosnian town of Visoko

Australian rules bar deportees from returning to the country for three years, threatening his future participation in a Slam he has won nine times.

But there was a glimmer of hope that his suspension could be lifted as new Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a huge tennis fan.

Djokovic, 35, gave no indication that he intends to reverse his anti-vax position to play in New York.

“I’m a professional tennis player, I don’t go into politics or anything else because I don’t care,” he said.

Djokovic could see his three-year travel ban from Australia lifted before next year

Djokovic could see his three-year travel ban from Australia lifted before next year

The Serbian star's visa was canceled in January 2022, preventing him from attending

The Serbian star’s visa was canceled in January 2022, preventing him from attending

“I have my stance and I am a proponent of freedom to choose what is best for you. I respect everything and everyone, and I expect people to at least respect my decision.

“If I have permission, I’ll be there. If I don’t, I won’t be there – it’s not the end of the world.”

Djokovic beat Nick Kyrgios in four sets last Sunday, winning Wimbledon for the seventh time and moving within one of Rafael Nadal’s record 22 Slam titles.

On his return on Monday he was greeted as a hero by thousands of fans in front of the city hall of the Serbian capital Belgrade with a concert and fireworks.