June 14, (THEWILL) – Tennis players from Russia and Belarus will be allowed to compete at the US Open in August, but Novak Djokovic may once again be excluded due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine earlier this year, Russian and Belarusian players have been participating under a neutral flag and were recently barred from competing in the United Kingdom this summer, including at Wimbledon, which begins on June 27.
Lew Sherr, the CEO and Executive Director of the United States Tennis Association, has stated that he will allow Russians and Belarusians to compete at the Grand Slams because he is concerned “about holding individual athletes accountable for the actions and decisions of their governments.”
Daniil Medvedev, the reigning US Open winner and world number one, as well as number seven Andrey Rublev and women’s world number six Aryna Sabalenka, will be able to compete in the fourth Grand Slam of the year. But, 20-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic will be unable to compete because he is unvaccinated against COVID-19.
International travellers to the US no longer need proof of negative testing in order to enter the country, although most tourists still need to produce proof of immunisation. Djokovic was also forced to withdraw from the Australian Open earlier this year owing to vaccine restrictions in the country. The US Open will begin on August 29.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
