Petition to allow Novak Djokovic to play at the US Open gathering steam – ‘Make it happen USTA’

US Open

Shahida Jacobs
July 20, 2022

The “Nole Fam” has taken to a petition website to try to convince the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to lobby the United States government to allow Novak Djokovic to play at this year’s US Open.

Under current guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), foreigners who are not vaccinated against COVID-19 are not allowed to enter the United States.

Djokovic remains unvaccinated and he insisted after Wimbledon that he won’t change his position. It means the 21-time Grand Slam winner won’t be able take part in the US Open in New York.

However, he has been dropping several hints that there could be a change in regulation that would allow him to compete in the final Grand Slam of the year at Flushing Meadows.

Novak Djokovic continues to drop US Open hints

His fans, known as the “Nole Fam”, have taken to change.org urging the USTA to work with the United States government to allow the Serbian to play at the US Open.

Nearly 12,000 people have already signed the online petition, which states: “There is absolutely no reason at this stage of the pandemic to not allow Djokovic to play at the US Open 2022.

“US Government and USTA must work together to allow him to play. If unvaccinated American players can play, Djokovic as one of the legends of the game must be allowed to play. MAKE IT HAPPEN, USTA!”

Djokovic also missed the defence of his Australian Open title in Melbourne at the start of the year as he was deported from the country due to his unvaccinated status while he was also unable to compete at the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open in March due to the CDC guidelines.

The US Open starts on August 29 at Flushing Meadows with the men’s final taking place on September 11.

Novak Djokovic