Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[MargaretMcAleer]

I will say Serbs and Croat at tennis tournaments do not get on there was a instance at the AO, they threw chairs at one another
Though the Serbian and Croat players get on very well....

 

[tented]

USTA statement on Novak Djokovic's withdrawal from the 2022 US Open:

Novak Djokovic withdrew from the 2022 US Open prior to the draw taking place this morning.

The official seeding list is not determined until the draw is made. As the Qualifying Tournament has commenced, his withdrawal resulted in a lucky loser being included in the draw.

Statement from Stacey Allaster, US Open Tournament Director:

"Novak is a great champion and it is very unfortunate that he will be unable to compete at the 2022 US Open, as he is unable to enter the country due to the federal government's vaccination policy for non-U.S.citizens. We look forward to welcoming Novak back at the 2023 US Open."

 

[TheSicilian]

Really? The ones I notice most on Facebook have Serb flags and Serb names in their profiles. But yeah, he’s popular outside Serbia too. As Margaret pointed out, Don Fabio is Croat, and a great interesting poster too…

On twitter a lot of his fans are holding Serbian flags in their profile pictures which were taken at tennis events or have a Serbian flag in their bio but are from a different country.

 

[TheSicilian]

I will say Serbs and Croat at tennis tournaments do not get on there was a instance at the AO, they threw chairs at one another
Though the Serbian and Croat players get on very well....

I remember that

 

[tented]

I remember that

The Australian Open: Come for the Tennis; Stay for the Brawls.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

The Australian Open: Come for the Tennis; Stay for the Brawls.

Remember it is called " The Happy Slam" LOL!

 

[the AntiPusher]

Y'all are not considering the high cost of inflation and the extra cost of purchasing airfare at the last second for Novak's team. Novak did the right thing to save his money during this inflation. The dude has a family to support. By the way here's an option for Uncle Joe's inflation woes. Jajaja.

 

[Kieran]

Here’s an article which makes a lot of sense, supporting Djoker…

 

[TheSicilian]

Here’s an article which makes a lot of sense, supporting Djoker…

How many Novax fans who write articles like this would have the same opinion if Rafa was the one being banned

I can't take the article seriously firstly the 1st paragraph says having won it 3 times he would likely be the favourite if allowed to play.... He was also the favourite in 20 + 21 he won both

Further down end of paragraph 3, it's a shame these off court considerations are likely to decide the Goat/GS Title race. BS. Djokovic has missed 2 slams due to his freedom of choice/beliefs. Nadal has missed 3 of the last 5 slams to injury... Going back further Novax has missed 2 of the last 22 slams. In fact he has missed just 3 slams his whole career, just 1 slam missed in 15+ years due to injury. Nadal has missed 13 because of injury. So to bring Novax ban into affecting the Goat race etc is stupid. Nadal could easily be close to 30 without all his injuries.

 

[Kieran]

How many Novax fans who write articles like this would have the same opinion if Rafa was the one being banned

I can't take the article seriously firstly the 1st paragraph says having won it 3 times he would likely be the favourite if allowed to play.... He was also the favourite in 20 + 21 he won both

Further down end of paragraph 3, it's a shame these off court considerations are likely to decide the Goat/GS Title race. BS. Djokovic has missed 2 slams due to his freedom of choice/beliefs. Nadal has missed 3 of the last 5 slams to injury... Going back further Novax has missed 2 of the last 22 slams. In fact he has missed just 3 slams his whole career, just 1 slam missed in 15+ years due to injury. Nadal has missed 13 because of injury. So to bring Novax ban into affecting the Goat race etc is stupid. Nadal could easily be close to 30 without all his injuries.

Well now, I didn't say he made complete sense. With regards to the tennis, you have however made complete sense, and it's fanboyism to argue otherwise.

But with regards to the politics and reality Djokovic's position, in trying to get into the US to play, I find he makes a lot of sense. The vaccine policy is arbitrary and contradictory, and will change, there's absolutely no question about this. It's not a policy based on either science or reason, and though it's politically expedient at present, unfortunately Djokovic has fallen foul of the same politics and has run out of track in his wait for change. I say this as a Rafa fan, albeit one who wouldn't be afraid if Rafa faced Djoker in New York anyway.

In fact, I'd have liked him to, to level up that H2H...

 

[TheSicilian]

I'm sure it makes sense. But I have no sympathy for Novax because of how he has behaved during the pandemic.

Yeah after all the #letnovakplay imagine if he was allowed to play & Rafa defeated him

 

[Kieran]

I'm sure it makes sense. But I have no sympathy for Novax because of how he has behaved during the pandemic.

Well, there is that.

Yeah after all the #letnovakplay imagine if he was allowed to play & Rafa defeated him

I imagined it often. Rafa always beats him in 4!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Well here in Sydney there has been much talk with Novak not allowed into the USA because of their COVID rules, I listen to a sports program here every day and they did get in touch with our new Immigration Minister asking if the question would Novak be allowed now to play at the AO in 2023, and would he get a new visa....answer came back as 'No Comment" from our Immigration Minister.Then there was a poll opened asking 'should Novak be allowed to play at the AO' this program goes to most states in Australia, ' most people did not want Novak back in Australia, regardless now that we have relaxed our vaccination protocols and people coming to Australia from other countries dont not have to be vaccinated now.

 

[Front242]

Really? The ones I notice most on Facebook have Serb flags and Serb names in their profiles. But yeah, he’s popular outside Serbia too. As Margaret pointed out, Don Fabio is Croat, and a great interesting poster too…

I'm pretty sure tons of the mongs with Ukrainian flags on their avatars aren't Ukrainians either. They're just NPCs.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

I looked at USO draw and saw no Joker. Just wondering if he took responsibility of sending his withdraw or did organizers have to draw the line and say "Novax - No play"?

 

[the AntiPusher]

I looked at USO draw and saw no Joker. Just wondering if he took responsibility of sending his withdraw or did organizers have to draw the line and say "Novax - No play"?

His airfare was too expensive for the traveling to US.

 

[Chris Koziarz]

His airfare was too expensive for the traveling to US.

By not flying to US Joker saved not only on airfare but on an expensive lawyer & on accommodation in refugee camp. Good & smart outcome for him, whatever thought his conspiracy laden brain concocted.

 

[Moxie]

I looked at USO draw and saw no Joker. Just wondering if he took responsibility of sending his withdraw or did organizers have to draw the line and say "Novax - No play"?

The vaccine mandate wasn't from the tournament organizers, it was from the US government, and so, when the policy didn't change in time, and realizing he wouldn't get into the US, first requirement to playing the USO, he withdrew shortly before the draw was made.

 

[the AntiPusher]

The vaccine mandate wasn't from the tournament organizers, it was from the US government, and so, when the policy didn't change in time, and realizing he wouldn't get into the US, first requirement to playing the USO, he withdrew shortly before the draw was made.

I think I prefer my response of the jacked up inflation airfares was his biggest obstacle. Jajaja

 

[Moxie]

Well now, I didn't say he made complete sense. With regards to the tennis, you have however made complete sense, and it's fanboyism to argue otherwise.

But with regards to the politics and reality Djokovic's position, in trying to get into the US to play, I find he makes a lot of sense. The vaccine policy is arbitrary and contradictory, and will change, there's absolutely no question about this. It's not a policy based on either science or reason, and though it's politically expedient at present, unfortunately Djokovic has fallen foul of the same politics and has run out of track in his wait for change. I say this as a Rafa fan, albeit one who wouldn't be afraid if Rafa faced Djoker in New York anyway.

In fact, I'd have liked him to, to level up that H2H...

I don't mind if the author of that piece wants to opine over US immigration policy towards non-resident aliens, in terms of vaccine mandate, but I think he does use Novak's situation as a pawn in the argument, in a way that I feel is inflammatory, opportunistic and cynically misleading. In the very second sentence, he says that ND was "not allowed to play" the USO. This is not accurate. Djokovic was not allowed to enter the US, due to current policy, and therefore not ABLE to play the USO. The tournament would have been happy to have him. And I'm sure the US government doesn't care one way or the other.