Top-ranked tennis player Novak Djokovic is currently licking his wounds following a visa dispute over his vaccination status down under. Despite several days of legal battle, the 34-year-old tennis superstar, who flew to Australia to play in the slam, was eventually deported.
World No.1 Novak Djokovic’s problems are on the verge of escalating as the US Open is set to follow the French government’s advice by barring unvaccinated tennis players from participating in the final Grand Slam of the year.
French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu had earlier welcomed Djokovic to play in the clay tournament, which will take place in May-June, but the situation has taken a turn in the wake of Djokovic losing his Australian Open court battle.
The Sports Ministry in Paris has now come up with a fresh set of guidelines, declaring that only vaxxed athletes will be allowed to attend sporting events, including Roland Garros.Sunday’s announcement by the French authorities is already showing ripple effects as the US Open is on course to follow the Australian Open and Roland Garros’ leads in blocking unvaccinated players from competing in the tournament, British newspapers The Sun and The Daily Mail said on Tuesday.
