KEY POINTS

  • Novak Djokovic recently won his 21st Grand Slam title
  • He has been against taking the COVID-19 vaccination
  • US Open is due to begin on Aug. 29 in New York

Novak Djokovic is unlikely to participate in the US Open 2022 after the organizers said they would "respect" United States government rules over travel for unvaccinated players.

Djokovic, who missed the Australian Open for the same reasons, remains unvaccinated and looks like he has no plans of changing that in the near future.

The 21-time Grand Slam winner won Wimbledon earlier this year and said he would "wait hopefully for some good news". He is one major title behind arch-rival Rafael Nadal, who is scheduled to play the US Open and has a fine chance to extend his lead.

The US Open is scheduled to take place from Aug. 29 to Sept. 11 at New York’s Flushing Meadows.

Djokovic, a former three-time US Open champion, was added to the entry list of the calendar’s final Grand Slam, but that was only a part of the routine and there is no indication about the Serbian being allowed to play in New York.

All eligible players are automatically entered into the men's and women's singles main-draw fields based on ranking 42 days prior to the first Monday of the event, as per the ITF Grand Slam rulebook.

"The US Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, but it will respect the U.S. government's position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-U.S. citizens," an official release from the US Open read.

Superman: Novak Djokovic is on a mission to win the most Grand Slams in history
Superman: Novak Djokovic is on a mission to win the most Grand Slams in history AFP / SEBASTIEN BOZON

Meanwhile, another former champion -- Serena Williams -- will feature in the US Open. She has been named on the entry list of the WTA players, according to The Guardian.

Williams, a six-time US Open champion, has not won a Grand Slam since 2017, when she clinched the Australian Open title, taking her majors tally to 23. The veteran is still chasing a record-equaling 24th Grand Slam that would put her on par with Margaret Court, who holds the record for most singles titles, among both men and women.

In the lead-up to the US Open, Williams has also been confirmed to play two tournaments -- National Bank Open in Toronto and Cincinnati Masters.

Djokovic’s participation is again doubtful at Cincinnati Masters owing to the same reason of being unvaccinated.

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