Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[tented]

I am suggesting there should be a reasonable fine for player's who withdraw after a draw has been made, who haven't got a reasonable excuse? eg Novak at IW this year is a good example.

There is, but Novak wouldn’t even notice if this amount fell out of his pocket.

 

[TheSicilian]

I am suggesting there should be a reasonable fine for player's who withdraw after a draw has been made, who haven't got a reasonable excuse? eg Novak at IW this year is a good example.

Good to see The Sicilian back

Sorry Kieren we will have to agree to disagree, I still believe Novak is being selfish and self serving in his refusal to withdraw.

Thanks Margaret

How about a ban from the next years tournament, that's a fine nobody would want!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

There is, but Novak wouldn’t even notice if this amount fell out of his pocket.
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Thanks Tented, though what a joke of a fine lol!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Thanks Margaret

How about a ban from the next years tournament, that's a fine nobody would want!

Twitter would explode if Novak got another ban LOL!....though I dont mind your way of thinking

 

[TheSicilian]

Thanks Tented, though what a joke of a fine lol!

20k for a top 10 player is nothing. 100k would be better.

 

[kskate2]

20k for a top 10 player is nothing. 100k would be better.

Not even 100K is really going to get their attention. For a slam, try half a mil. Now you'll get some eyelash batting, some screaming of not fair and all the top players actually following the rules, etc.

 

[TheSicilian]

Liam Broady has taken a "shot" against Novax Saying it's harsh on the #1 qualifying player, who should be in the main draw if he withdraws but now must play qualifying...

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Liam Broady has taken a "shot" against Novax Saying it's harsh on the #1 qualifying player, who should be in the main draw if he withdraws but now must play qualifying...

That was my point yesterday, the qualifies have started, Novak has not officially withdrawn, now the No 1 qualifying player who should be in the main draw, now has to play qualifying...just backs up my point about Novak, being 'selfish and self serving'

 

[TheSicilian]

@Kieran Just checking twitter From a Novax fan. The Us Open tournament director is a business partner with Federer. Clear case of discrimination against Novak. This is the reason why the USO won't seek special exemption for Djokovic to play.

 

[Moxie]

Just been giving this some more thought, maybe it's just me but I quite like the idea of a slam draw being made the night before the tournament? That feels exciting to me. Would also maybe solve the problem of a player withdrawing after the draw.

I like the thinking outside of the box, but this is a terrible idea. First, and probably most importantly, it would reduce the time for the betting people to make odds, and I think sports betting matters in this world. Second, it would reduce the time for sports pundits to analyze and game the draws. Most importantly for me, it would not allow US on forums like this to game the draws, or to play the draw challenges, which you may know I am a fan of, and I will push you to join ours.

Maybe what matters most, though, is that it rarely happens, in a Major, that a player withdraws after the draw is made, or specifically a high-profile one. I would not advocate for this kind of a change just because Novak is going around refusing to be vaccinated against Covid. This, too, shall pass.

 

[Moxie]

@Kieran Just checking twitter From a Novax fan. The Us Open tournament director is a business partner with Federer. Clear case of discrimination against Novak. This is the reason why the USO won't seek special exemption for Djokovic to play.

To the Twitter "twits" out there, as Kieran calls them, why should the USO seek a special exemption? The AO tried that, and see how that went. All of this is on Novak. The notion of Federer being involved is more of their incredible reaching. They actually got 50,000 signature to petition the US government, I think.

 

[Moxie]

This is what I said above, that “there might be stuff going on in the background where they ask him if he’s coming.” It’s highly unlikely that the USO officials are refreshing the page every five minutes waiting for something to change. I’m sure they’re in touch, and I’m sure Novak is fully aware of how limited his options have become. I think it’s a storm in a teacup, at this stage…

I promised you I would look up what the USOpen policy was on players being vaccinated. For some reason, it seems they are still undecided?

https://www.usopen.org/en_US/content/us_open_health_and_safety.html

As to "stuff going on in the background," we all have to think that he has been in touch with the tournament. Surely they are speaking. As you say, we don't know if they've drawn a line in the sand as to deadline. But I will say this: if they have told him they'll let him go over the deadline of the draw, they'll want that in deep cover. Obviously, it is not only in Djokovic's interest that he play the USO, but in the interest of the tournament, too. But how would it look for the tournament if it came out that they offered him to blow past the deadline of the draw? Maybe not so good. Surely it would be favoritism to a top player, which is what led to so many bad feelings in Australia.

In larger world terms, it IS a tempest in a teacup, which is why the US Govt is not moving its policy in time for one guy to play tennis at the USO. However, in tennis terms, it's a big deal. Just like before the AO, and even IW, Djokovic has everyone pendant to his choices. Rather than back off gracefully, and stand by his personal decisions, he's once again got all of the tennis world wondering what will happen. You say he's earned the right to be selfish. I would say he's actually earned the right to special treatment, meaning waiting for him, but up to a point. For me, the point is when the draw is made. This is where I think special consideration ends, and I hope that the USO has drawn a line. If they haven't, I think they are collectively idiots and will deserve the criticism they get. And they will be criticized.

 

[rafanoy1992]

By the way, the CDC "updated" its page regarding about non-immigrant travelers: You have to show proof of a complete vaccine document before you can enter the country.

Like most of us here in the USA predicted: The US will not change its vaccination policies for non-immigrant, non-vaccinated people this quick.

 

[rafanoy1992]

What's interesting about those Djokovic "fans"? If Djokovic took the vaccine, they would not even care about COVID policies in each countries. They will still complain (that's their memo) about something, but it won't be about countries laws, policies, "establishments," or how Djokovic is "rule free."

 

[Moxie]

Look 'The Delusional Novak Fans" have tried to blame everyone including the Kitchen Sink why he is banned from playing at the USO LOL!
Apparently Novak is 'rule free' and should be able to play where and when he wants to....regardless of the countries and their COVID protocols....this has now become a 'circus'...

It IS officially a circus...once again. Ben Rothensberg has been particularly singled out for the anger of Novak Nation. And I know you know this, based on the LOL, especially, but Novak is NOT banned from playing the USO. He wasn't banned from playing IW or Roger's Cup in Canada. He simply doesn't meet the requirements for entry into the respective countries, due to his refusal to vaccinate. THAT IS ON HIM AND IT IS HIS CHOICE! Apparently his fans can't grasp the concept.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

It IS officially a circus...once again. Ben Rothensberg has been particularly singled out for the anger of Novak Nation. And I know you know this, based on the LOL, especially, but Novak is NOT banned from playing the USO. He wasn't banned from playing IW or Roger's Cup in Canada. He simply doesn't meet the requirements for entry into the respective countries, due to his refusal to vaccinate. THAT IS ON HIM AND IT IS HIS CHOICE! Apparently his fans can't grasp the concept.

They cant grasp it and they wont , they will be looking for more excuses for their idol, it is sad really.

 

[Moxie]

What's interesting about those Djokovic "fans"? If Djokovic took the vaccine, they would not even care about COVID policies in each countries. They will still complain (that's their memo) about something, but it won't be about countries laws, policies, "establishments," or how Djokovic is "rule free."

Djokovic and his fans have had a chip on the shoulder since 2011. They complain that he doesn't get the love because he's from the old Soviet Bloc. That he wasn't one of the "Nike Dolls." (That was an old trope from a long-gone Djoker fan.) The crowd doesn't give him the love. That he gets portrayed as a bad guy when he's such a magnificent human being. Get over it. He gets back what he puts in. I agree that he came to #1 in a world already divided by Federer and Nadal fans, but he has done a lot to polarize tennis fans in the interim, and basically of his own making.

 

[Kieran]

I promised you I would look up what the USOpen policy was on players being vaccinated. For some reason, it seems they are still undecided?

https://www.usopen.org/en_US/content/us_open_health_and_safety.html

As to "stuff going on in the background," we all have to think that he has been in touch with the tournament. Surely they are speaking. As you say, we don't know if they've drawn a line in the sand as to deadline. But I will say this: if they have told him they'll let him go over the deadline of the draw, they'll want that in deep cover. Obviously, it is not only in Djokovic's interest that he play the USO, but in the interest of the tournament, too. But how would it look for the tournament if it came out that they offered him to blow past the deadline of the draw? Maybe not so good. Surely it would be favoritism to a top player, which is what led to so many bad feelings in Australia.

In larger world terms, it IS a tempest in a teacup, which is why the US Govt is not moving its policy in time for one guy to play tennis at the USO. However, in tennis terms, it's a big deal. Just like before the AO, and even IW, Djokovic has everyone pendant to his choices. Rather than back off gracefully, and stand by his personal decisions, he's once again got all of the tennis world wondering what will happen. You say he's earned the right to be selfish. I would say he's actually earned the right to special treatment, meaning waiting for him, but up to a point. For me, the point is when the draw is made. This is where I think special consideration ends, and I hope that the USO has drawn a line. If they haven't, I think they are collectively idiots and will deserve the criticism they get. And they will be criticized.

I agree with this up to the end: if they’re not checking every players vaccine status, then they won’t check one players. They ought to have brought in some insurance against this eventuality long ago, but if they didn’t, then bringing it in now is too late. Remember, it’s not “special treatment” to not ask him before the draw is he’s intending to play, if that’s exactly the same treatment every other player is getting. I would say there’s back channel stuff going on though.

I think he’ll withdraw before the draw is made but I won’t be surprised - or disappointed - if he doesn’t, and waits even longer. He has nothing to lose by doing this, and I think he’s right to think of himself first and foremost…

 

[Kieran]

The more ridiculous thing about Djokers absence will be of course the people who will say he was robbed of a slam and that whoever wins it has an asterisk by their name. And certainly if Rafa wins it, he now has 2 asterisks against his name, this year alone. They think the so-called GOAT debate is about who has the fewest asterisks after their name. They know so little about tennis if this is what they’ll say - Rafa has won 4 of the last 8 US Opens he’s played, beating Novak in two finals. Maybe we should backdate some of asterisks, for the times Rafa was missing, including 2020 when - similarly to Novak - he made a personal health based choice due to covid, and skipped the US Open?

 

[Kieran]

@Kieran Just checking twitter From a Novax fan. The Us Open tournament director is a business partner with Federer. Clear case of discrimination against Novak. This is the reason why the USO won't seek special exemption for Djokovic to play.

We knew there was more to this than meets the eye!