The forthcoming Montreal tournament’s players will benefit from the absence of Novak Djokovic, who refuses to be vaccinated. He will also be absent from the next US Open later this month for the same reason.
Djokovic’s absence because of his unvaccinated status is not the first time this year. In January, he had to skip the Australian Open after being deported from the country due to him not getting the COVID-19 vaccination. Thus, he had to relinquish his Australian Open title.
Canada and the United States have barred foreign nationals from entering their respective nations who have not had their COVID-19 vaccination.
Unfortunately for his supporters, he has said that he would not take any COVID-19 vaccination, even if it means that he would be unable to compete in multiple tournaments since several countries have prohibited the entry of unvaccinated foreign nationals.
If anyone plans to go to Canada, visitors must have their second dose of the covid-19 vaccination at least 14 days before visitors’ arrival, including the athletes.
However, in May of this year, Djokovic entered the French Open since there is no ban on unvaccinated athletes. However, he lost after a match with his long-time rival, Rafael Nadal, in the quarter-final at Roland Garros on Thursday night.
Djokovic also competed in the 7th Wimbledon Championships in London last month, when he defeated Nick Kyrgios, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (3), to win his seventh Wimbledon championship and 21st grand slam.
After defeating Kyrgios, Djokovic remarked in a statement that he “would love” to travel to Flushing Meadows for the year’s last Grand Slam tournament. However, he said, “I’m not planning to get vaccinated.”
Previously, Djokovic’s hopes of being the first player in history to win a calendar-year Grand Slam since the great Rod Laver in 1969 were dashed with his defeat in the US Open final by Russian player Daniil Medvedev last year. This setback is fairly surprising given Djokovic’s recent victories, including at the French Open, and Wimbledon.
Some players join the draw, Nadal skips due to injury
Despite the fact that Djokovic withdrew from the Montreal tournament, Nick Kyrgios and Benjamin Bonzi were invited to the main draw. Aside from that, the four wild-card entries bring in three-time major winner Andy Murray, David Goffin, Vasek Pospisil, and Alexis Galarneau.
Nadal is also expected to miss the match in Montreal since he hasn’t healed from his abdominal injury suffered at Wimbledon in July.
He remarked in a statement issued by Tennis Canada, saying “Everything has been going well.”
“However yesterday, after my normal practice, I felt a slight bother on my abdominal and today it was still there. After speaking with my doctor, we prefer to take things in a conservative way and give a few more days before starting to compete,” he explained.
In an interview, Nadal also voiced his disappointment at not making it to Montreal.
“It’s a tournament that I have won 5 times and I love to play there,” he noted. “I seriously hope I can come back there to play in front of the amazing crowds up there.”