Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[Moxie]

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…

I don't know why you can't distinguish between the US govt requiring a vaccination for entry and the USOpen requirements. The USO isn't requiring players to be vaccinated from anything I have read. They only require Novak to have a valid visa to work in the US. But for that, as of this moment, he needs to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I don't know why you can't distinguish between the US govt requiring a vaccination for entry and the USOpen requirements. The USO isn't requiring players to be vaccinated from anything I have read. They only require Novak to have a valid visa to work in the US. But for that, as of this moment, he needs to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

After all this time and Djokovic fans still don't get it... Maybe we should use sock puppets to explain it to them so they would finally get it?

 

[Kieran]

I don't know why you can't distinguish between the US govt requiring a vaccination for entry and the USOpen requirements. The USO isn't requiring players to be vaccinated from anything I have read. They only require Novak to have a valid visa to work in the US. But for that, as of this moment, he needs to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

I can distinguish them: when I said “if they’re not checking every players vaccine status, then they won’t check one players”, I was referring to their vaccine status with regards to entering the country. I thought this was clear, because I said I agree with you up until the end of your post, where you said “This is where I think special consideration ends, and I hope that the USO has drawn a line.”

I took it that here, you were referring to the USO drawing a line by making sure the players fulfilled their visa requirements, which includes their vaccine status…

 

[Moxie]

I can distinguish them: when I said “if they’re not checking every players vaccine status, then they won’t check one players”, I was referring to their vaccine status with regards to entering the country. I thought this was clear, because I said I agree with you up until the end of your post, where you said “This is where I think special consideration ends, and I hope that the USO has drawn a line.”

I took it that here, you were referring to the USO drawing a line by making sure the players fulfilled their visa requirements, which includes their vaccine status…

Forgive me if I misunderstood you, but I sort still am not. The vaccine status vis-a-vis requirement for entry into the US is for non-resident aliens. The requirements are different for citizens, for example. I don't know the fine points. But it has nothing to do with their being tennis players. I think Tennys Sandgren has made rather a big deal out of this on social media because he is anti-vax, unvaccinated (and chose not to go to the AO, for example,) and says it's unfair that he can play the USO unvaccinated but Novak cannot. But that has to do with their immigration status, not about being tennis players. Is that what you mean?

 

[TheSicilian]

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.

Lol! Btw I did play the Wimbledon draw challenge & will play USO I enjoy them, it's always a fun making the picks be sensible or go with who I want to win!!

True I agree it shouldn't change just because of the Novax drama. I find little hype around the slams on tv these days, I would like the excitement of the draw live on tv just before the tournament starts.

 

[Kieran]

Forgive me if I misunderstood you, but I sort still am not. The vaccine status vis-a-vis requirement for entry into the US is for non-resident aliens. The requirements are different for citizens, for example. I don't know the fine points. But it has nothing to do with their being tennis players. I think Tennys Sandgren has made rather a big deal out of this on social media because he is anti-vax, unvaccinated (and chose not to go to the AO, for example,) and says it's unfair that he can play the USO unvaccinated but Novak cannot. But that has to do with their immigration status, not about being tennis players. Is that what you mean?

Here's what I mean, and what I thought you were also referring to, but in a different way. The tournament would have been wise to ensure that all the players going into the draw had presented proofs that they are eligible to enter the country. Because if they can't enter the country, they can't play, right?

But what I took you to be saying was that the tournament should single Novak out and demand that he answer the question, before the draw is made - based upon the obvious likelihood that he's unvaccinated. My feeling on this is that it would be unfair to single him out in this way. That they either ask everyone, or no-one.

Now, this is not a contradiction of my view that there maybe back channel stuff going on. If there is, it would by nature be informal. But to formally insist he presents his bona fides while not asking the same of others would be unfair. He may not even answer, and they have no ruling in place that they can force on him.

I do understand the distinctions between the treatment of foreign citizens and Americans with regards to the vaccine, and also I understand that the USO have no say in government policy...

 

[TheSicilian]

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.

It's madness isn't it how they think Federer is connected. I agree they should not seek Special exemption, no way...

I was looking at Liam's tweets & eventually he said enough from the Nolefam now. It's harassment, just for having a different opinion he was getting a lot of hate from the cult. One replied they were tired of the "attacks" on Novax. But Novax refused the vaccine he has only himself to blame. The victim mentality is a joke.

 

[Kieran]

It's madness isn't it how they think Federer is connected. I agree they should not seek Special exemption, no way...

I was looking at Liam's tweets & eventually he said enough from the Nolefam now. It's harassment, just for having a different opinion he was getting a lot of hate from the cult. One replied they were tired of the "attacks" on Novax. But Novax refused the vaccine he has only himself to blame. The victim mentality is a joke.

I saw a post on social media claiming its hypocrisy because they allow illegal immigrants in without being vaccinated. Good recommendation there from a fan…

 

[TheSicilian]

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?

Agree 1000%. Novax has 1 title in 5 years? So to the pro Djokovic what makes him the clear favorite? Notice how the asterisks only work one way. We could easily bring up 2016 RG, even Wimbledon this year with Rafa's injury. Djokovic is not guaranteed to win e ery slam he enters, if he couldn't win in 20 or 21 Uso without Rafa in the draw how can he be clear favorite with Rafa in the draw Rafa has a 2-1 H2H in NYC?

 

[Kieran]

Agree 1000%. Novax has 1 title in 5 years? So to the pro Djokovic what makes him the clear favorite? Notice how the asterisks only work one way. We could easily bring up 2016 RG, even Wimbledon this year with Rafa's injury. Djokovic is not guaranteed to win e ery slam he enters, if he couldn't win in 20 or 21 Uso without Rafa in the draw how can he be clear favorite with Rafa in the draw Rafa has a 2-1 H2H in NYC?

Rafa has a much better record in New York than Novak. If Rafa wins this year we all know he will equal the record 5 titles of Jimmy, Pete and Roger. Unfortunately he’ll have to play until he’s in his early forties to equal Novaks unique record in New York, of being the only man to lose six finals…

 

[TheSicilian]

Twitter today

 

[TheSicilian]

So Moderna being involved with the USO to run a booster campaign is proof of corruption... Once again we go back to the US Open have not banned Novax it's Usa the country that don't allow him entry.

What about the tweet saying his name is removed from the entry list?!?

 

[Nadalfan2013]

I saw a post on social media claiming its hypocrisy because they allow illegal immigrants in without being vaccinated. Good recommendation there from a fan…

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Are we comparing a celebrity entering a country to play a tennis tournament with migrants running away from their country because they are afraid for their lives and want a better future for their kids? Sports issue vs humanitarian issue? OK.

 

[TheSicilian]

 

[Kieran]

There you go, panic over, for anyone who panicked…

 

[TheSicilian]

There you go, panic over, for anyone who panicked…

Thankfully the drama is finally over, until Australia 2023....

 

[TheSicilian]

Last twitter post enjoy!!

 

[Kieran]

Thankfully the drama is finally over, until Australia 2023....

Somehow I don’t think Djoker will hire a flotilla of Johnny Cochranes any day soon. It might even be clearer for him in Australia, if the 3 year ban is a thing..

 

[Kieran]

Last twitter post enjoy!!

These people are not tennis fans, they’re crazy nationalists, and they’re not familiar with logic either…

 

[TheSicilian]

Best tennis player of his generation