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IMAGE: Serena Williams with Novak Djokovic. {Photograph}: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports activities/Reuters
Serena Williams was included on the entry record for the US Open on Wednesday together with fellow former champion Novak Djokovic, who won’t be able to compete attributable to his refusal to be vaccinated towards COVID-19.
Williams, who returned to competitors final month after a year-long absence, was added to the entry record for the August 29-September 11 Grand Slam in New York having been named within the draw for tune-up occasions in Toronto and Cincinnati.
The 23-times Grand Slam champion fell within the first spherical at Wimbledon and final appeared within the US Open in 2020 when the six-time winner reached the semi-finals.
Eligible gamers are mechanically entered into the primary draw however that does little to assist Djokovic, who retained his Wimbledon crown final month and is one again of Rafa Nadal’s file of twenty-two Grand Slam titles.
Djokovic won’t be able to take part within the yr’s remaining Grand Slam attributable to present guidelines below which travellers looking for to enter the USA must be totally vaccinated and supply proof earlier than boarding flights.
“The US Open doesn’t have a vaccination mandate in place for gamers, however it can respect the U.S. authorities’s place concerning journey into the nation for unvaccinated non-US residents,” the USA Tennis Affiliation (USTA) stated in a information launch.
Virtually 12,000 individuals have signed an internet petition calling for the USTA to work with the nation’s authorities to permit Djokovic to compete within the US Open regardless of his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Djokovic gained the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2021 however was unable to defend his Melbourne Park crown this yr after being deported from Australia over his vaccination standing in January.
He later stated he was ready to overlook Grand Slam tournaments reasonably than take the COVID-19 vaccine.
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