Daniil Medvedev ‘would love to see’ Novak Djokovic play at US Open to reignite his rivalry with Rafael Nadal

US Open
Novak Djokovic congratulates Daniil Medvedev

If it was up to Daniil Medvedev then Novak Djokovic would play at this year’s US Open as the world No 1 wants “the best players in the world” to compete at the big tournaments.

As things stand, Djokovic won’t compete at the final Grand Slam of the season at Flushing Meadows as under current laws foreign citizens who are not vaccinated against the coronavirus are not allowed to enter the United States.

The 21-time Grand Slam winner has made it clear in the past that he won’t change his stance on vaccination, but he was given hope last week when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new guidelines as they relaxed rules regarding social distancing and quarantine.

The CDC, though, is yet to update review and update its travel advice for non-citizens and a tweak could see Djokovic play in New York later this year.

Medvedev was asked by the press if he would like to see the Serbian play at Flushing Meadows and replied: “Yeah, for sure. I cannot do anything. It is the government who sets the rules, so I do not know if it can actually change or not.

“If you ask me, if I would be the decision-maker, sure I want Novak to play. I like it when the tournament [has] the best players in the world.”

Besides wanting to see the best playing in the big events, another reason why Medvedev hopes Djokovic plays in New York is due to his “interesting” rivalry with Rafael Nadal.

The pair are battling it out for the most Grand Slam titles with Nadal currently on 22 majors after winning the Australian Open and French Open while Djokovic closed the gap to one after successfully defending his Wimbledon crown.

“This competition against Rafa is super intense and super interesting,” Medvedev said. “So I would love to see him there in New York.

“But, if for the government rules, he cannot be there, well, everybody is still going to try to do their best and try to win [the] US Open.”

Medvedev will be one of the players who will be hoping to do well at the US Open as he is the defending champion having beaten Djokovic in last year’s final.

ATP Rankings: What needs to happen for Rafael Nadal to snatch No 1 in Cincy

The Russian himself will also be in an “intense” battle with Nadal over the next few weeks for the world No 1 title. If Nadal wins the Western & Southern Open then Medvedev needs to reach at least the quarter-final in Cincinnati to stay top of the ATP Rankings heading into the US Open.

Daniil Medvedev Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal

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