Novak Djokovic on Cincy entry list despite unvaccinated status, Sascha Zverev, Rafael Nadal also feature
The current regulations state that Novak Djokovic is not allowed to enter the United States due to his unvaccinated status, but his name still featured when the Western & Southern Open organisers released the 2022 entry list.
Having missed the defence of his Australian Open title at the start of the year after he was deported from the country as he is not vaccinated against COVID-19, Djokovic made his Grand Slam return at Roland Garros and also played at Wimbledon as both France and the United Kingdom allow unvaccinated people to enter the country.
However, his participation at the US Open appeared to be no go as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s website states “If you are a non-U.S. citizen, non-U.S. immigrant and not fully vaccinated, you will not be allowed to board a flight to the United States. Only limited exceptions apply to the requirement to show proof of vaccination.”
Novak Djokovic says there is no ‘medical logic’ behind banning unvaccinated players from US Open
The 21-time Grand Slam winner’s name, though, appeared on the men’s field for the Cincinnati Open, which starts on August 15, and he is among six major champions on the list.
Djokovic himself has dropped several hints after winning a seventh Wimbledon title last week that he could still be allowed to enter the US while his fans have started an online petition requesting that the United States government change the regulations.
The Western & Southern Open field also features the injured Alexander Zverev and Rafael Nadal.
Defending Cincinnati champion Zverev has not played since he suffered a horrific ankle injury at the French Open while Nadal has returned to training after he was forced to pull out of his Wimbledon semi-final clash against Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury.
World No 1 and reigning US Open champion Daniil Medvedev headlines the field with Dominic Thiem and Stan Wawrinka are the other Grand Slam winners in the line-up.
Both Thiem (274) and Wawrinka (290) have entered using their protected rankings.
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