Former Acting Director of US National Intelligence Richard Grenell has urged Joe Biden and US authorities to let Novak Djokovic compete at the US Open. Djokovic has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and cannot enter the United States due to its vaccine laws that require foreigners to show proof of vaccination upon entering the country.
Grenell, who was Acting Director of National Intelligence in President Donald Trump’s cabinet in 2020, has made it clear that he doesn’t want the US Open to go ahead without “one of the best players in the world.”
“Let Novak Djokovic play at the US Open! The US Open gets cheaper when it bans one of the best players in the world,” Grenell tweeted. 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 he could be vaccinated before the US Open.
“I am not vaccinated and I do not plan to be vaccinated, so the only good news I can have is that they remove the mandatory vaccination green card or whatever it is called to enter the United States, or the exemption.
I don’t think an exemption is realistic. I will wait for good news from the United States, because I would love to go there,” said Djokovic. After receiving a special exemption for the Australian Open, Djokovic traveled to that country.
Djokovic then ended up being detained and then deported from the country. Djokovic acknowledged that the Australia saga was extremely unpleasant for him and that he does not want to find himself in a similar situation again.
“I’m not going to go to the United States if I don’t have permission, so the Australia saga for me was not pleasant at all,” Djokovic said.
Shiras talks about Djokovic
Leif Shiras, in a recent interview with Kamau Murray, spoke about the Serb’s chances of winning more Grand Slam titles.
He also emphasized Novak Djokovic’s outstanding physical fitness at the age of 35. “I think Novak Djokovic in his current form, his physical health, he has got you know four or five more Majors in him where he could get to 26 or 27,” Shiras said.
“He is 35 years old and he continues to set this amazing standard of physicality. And you know he goes down a set to these young challengers two sets, in fact to sinner and you feel like it just doesn’t bother him. He just finds another gear in his head in his legs and in his heart,” he added.
