Former Acting Director of the United States National Intelligence Richard Grenell has urged Joe Biden and the US authorities to let Novak Djokovic compete at the US Open. Djokovic hasn’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 and he can’t enter the United States because of their vaccine laws that require foreigners to show vaccination proof upon entering the country.
Grenell, who served as the Acting Director of National Intelligence in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet in 2020, has made it clear he doesn’t want to see the US Open proceed without “one of the best players in the world.”
“Let Novak Djokovic play in the US Open! The US Open cheapens itself when it bans one of the best players in the world,” Grenell tweeted.
Let @DjokerNole play in the @usopen!
The U.S. Open cheapens itself when it bans one of the best players in the world.
— Richard Grenell (@RichardGrenell) July 17, 2022
Djokovic won’t force his entry into the United States
Shortly after Djokovic lifted his 21st Grand Slam title by beating Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final, he was asked if there was a chance of seeing him take the vaccine before the US Open.
“I’m not vaccinated and I’m not planning to get vaccinated, so the only good news I can have is them removing the mandated green vaccine card or whatever you call it to enter the United States, or exemption.
I don’t think an exemption is realistically possible. I’ll wait for some good news from the US because I would really love to go there,” Djokovic said. After being granted a special exemption for the Australian Open, Djokovic traveled to Australia.
Then, Djokovic ended up detained and then deported from the country. Djokovic acknowledged that the Australia saga was extremely unpleasant for him and he doesn’t want to find himself again in a similar position. “I’m not going to go to America if I don’t have permission, so the Australian saga for me was not pleasant at all,” Djokovic said.
