With the US Open starting on Monday, Novak Djokovic says he won’t be able to make it to New York.
Due to his lack of Covid-19 vaccine, Djokovic was deported from the country in January and was unable to defend his Australian Open title.
Non-vaccinated foreign tourists are not permitted in the United States as of October 2021.
Serb Djokovic had planned to take part, but on Thursday he tweeted: “Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open.”
Rafael Nadal holds the record for most major titles by a man with 22. The 35-year-old lost out on another opportunity to increase that total after winning his 21st major trophy at Wimbledon in July, putting him one behind Nadal.
“I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again,” Djokovic added.
“See you soon tennis world!”
Djokovic said in a social media post on July 30 that he was “preparing as if I will be allowed to compete” and that his name had just been added to the US Open entrance list on Monday.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the country’s health protection body, had recently reconsidered some of its travel restrictions for unvaccinated individuals, but Djokovic’s apparent withdrawal signals that they will still be in place.
Later on Thursday, the US Open draw will take place.