Serena Leads US Open Women’s Entries; Djokovic On List, But Can He Play?
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Serena Williams heads the list of entries for next month’s US Open.
The 6-time winner Williams is joined by other stars including Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff and defending champion Emma Raducanu.
The big news, though, was Novak Djokovic’s appearance on the men’s list. While he was automatically entered, the Serb could have withdrawn. However, for now he’ll try to get into the country as an unvaxxed foreigner, which is presently prohibited.
Speaking after his Wimbledon title, Djokovic didn’t think he would be able to play New York or at any of the summer hard court events in North America.
“I’m not vaccinated and I’m not planning to get vaccinated so the only good news I can have is them removing the mandated green vaccine card or whatever you call it to enter United States or exemption,” said Djokovic.
“I don’t know. I don’t think exemption is realistically possible. If that is possibility, I don’t know what exemption would be about. I don’t know. I don’t have much answers there. I think it’s just whether or not they remove this in time for me to get to USA.”
If the rules don’t change, Djokovic might not get back on tour until the Laver Cup in London after the US Open. And he might not be able to play another Slam until the French.
“I would really love to go there,” Djokovic said of travelling to the U.S. “That would be probably the next big tournament, the next big swing, playing a tournament or two before US Open and US Open.
“If that doesn’t happen, then I have to see what the schedule will look like. To be honest, I doubt that I’ll go and chase points.
“I guess I have a good chance to be already in the Finals. I will not burden myself to really have to go and play tournaments and get points.
“I’ll see. I don’t really feel any pressure or necessity to play a certain schedule.
“We still have not spoken about the schedule, Goran and I. We have to sit down and see what the news are from States and whether that’s happening or not happening, then take it from there.
“Could be Laver Cup, Davis Cup is coming as well. I love playing for my country. Going to try to be part of that. Next thing you know the season is over, right? Those are the big, let’s say, tournaments that I have right now in my mind.”
Added Goran Ivanisevic, “A lot of crazy things happening in the world. It’s come every day something is changing, something new. We see what’s going to happen. Still we have, what, one and a half months. Anything happen or not happen.”
The US Open will allow unvaxxed players to compete, but they have to get into the country.
“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,” the tournament said in a statement.
Fans have already started a petition requesting the U.S. government to allow Djokovic to compete.
Former champion Dominic Thiem is among those players not on the list of entries.
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