Novak Djokovic pulls out of US Open 2022 due to THIS reason, says 'See you soon tennis world'

World No 1 Novak Djokovic announced on Thursday (August 25) that he will be skipping the US Open 2022. In a note posted on Twitter, Djokovic wrote: "Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. See you soon tennis world!"

Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. __ Good luck to my fellow players! I'll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. __ See you soon tennis world! __ — Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022

The reason why Djokovic is not travelling for US Open to New York is due to strict rules of the country. United States of America has made it mandatory for every traveller that enters its border to be vaccinated agsinst the the Covid-19. Djokovic had a stance against the vaccines as he refused to be vaccinated.  

The 3-time US Open champion had missed the Australia Opne 2022, the first Grand Slam of the year, due to the same reason. Back then, he had even flown to Melbourne before being denied entry to the country due to his unvaccinated status.   

Djokovic is a 35-year-old from Serbia who owns 21 major championships, one behind Rafael Nadal for the men's record. Three of Djokovic's Slam trophies came at the U.S. Open, in 2011, 2015 and 2018. He also was the runner-up there a half-dozen times, including last season, when his pursuit of the first calendar-year Grand Slam in men's tennis since 1969 ended with a loss in the final to Daniil Medvedev.

Foreign citizens who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 are currently unable to enter the U.S or Canada, and Djokovic has said he won't get the shots, even if that prevents him from playing in certain tournaments. The U.S. Tennis Association has said all along it will follow government rules about vaccination status for this year's Open. There is no vaccine mandate at the tournament for players or their support teams ? meaning that an unvaccinated American would be allowed to compete ? and spectators will not be required to wear masks.

Djokovic missed the Australian Open in January after a protracted legal saga ended with his deportation from that country because he isn't vaccinated against COVID-19. He also sat out four significant tournaments in North America in 2022, including in Montreal and Cincinnati recently.

He did play in the French Open, where he lost in the quarterfinals to Nadal, and at Wimbledon, where Djokovic won the title.

After beating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final on July 10, Djokovic said he 'would love' to participate in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year at Flushing Meadows, but he also acknowledged, "I'm not planning to get vaccinated."

With PTI inputs