I was shocked to hear that Novak Djokovic was facing a 2022 US Open ban because he isn’t vaccinated. Djokovic was present at the last two US Opens. He reached the finals in 2021. All of a sudden Djokovic is a danger to society so the government won’t allow him to enter the United States. There’s still a slither of hope that Djokovic and others who are in the same spot can get a medical exemption but that seems unlikely. He refuses to get the vaccine. He believes that it’s his body, his choice.
The reason why Djokovic can’t play is because President Joe Biden and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an order requiring a coronavirus vaccination for nonimmigrant noncitizens hoping to enter the United States. This was shortly after the 2021 US Open was already in the books.
Immediate Responses to Novak Djokovic US Open Ban
“These politicians are getting in the way too much. They did it in Australia. Let’s let the guy come in and play in the U.S. I mean, come on. This is ridiculous.
John McEnroe
Sorry, Joe, you can't leave our border wide open to the unvaxxxinated masses and then tell Novak Djokovic he can't play in the US Open because he's not vaxxxinated. Either close the border or let Novak in.
— Cari Kelemen 2.0 (@CariKelemen) July 10, 2022
It’s really simple on the Novak Djokovic vaccination thing: His body, his choice.
— TennisBuzz (@TennisBuzz) July 10, 2022
He’s not pushing his views on anyone else, so no one should be pushing theirs on him. Respect his choice. https://t.co/x8K3eqFRsf
As the covid injections do nothing for transmission, your theory is that he "should just have done as he was told." Therein lies the road to tyranny.
— Bev Turner 🌸 (@beverleyturner) July 10, 2022
Thank God for real men like @DjokerNole who stand up for humanity. I know which type of man I'd like beside me in a crisis… https://t.co/64VHP6Raxe
Novak Djokovic US Open Ban Is A Reality Check For Me
I barely hear anyone talk about the pandemic anymore. For the last six months I’ve barely seen anyone wear a mask. My job removed all seating barriers and social distancing rules where workers had to stay six feet away from each other. Those rules were hardly ever enforced though. They even removed all the wrapping from the plastic cutlery packets. The forks and spoons are completely bare of any protection from hands that are covered with germs.
My area has moved on so it shocked me to hear that some areas are still taking it that seriously.
What Novak Djokovic US Open Ban Means For His Future
Djokovic just beat Nick Kyrgios to win his 21st Grand Slam singles title, his seventh Wimbledon championship. There’s no guarantee that Australia will let him back into their country for the 2023 Australian Open. He may not get another chance at a major title until the 2023 French Open. This gives Rafael Nadal a better chance to add to his leading 22 Grand Slam titles.
Best of luck to Novak Djokovic. It sucks to lose some of the last chances to see the 35-year-old play at his prime. I respect the man for standing up for what he believes in even if it may eventually come at the cost of what other people think about him and his career legacy.
