Djokovic and Williams added to the U.S. Open entry list due to kick start in August.
Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams has been added to the U.S. Open entry list on Wednesday ahead of the Grand slam in August.
Eligible players are added to the draw automatically but still a doubt for Djokovic who is yet to be vaccinated.
The Serb will not be able to participate in the U.S. Open due to the rules of under which travellers seeking to enter the United States have to be fully vaccinated and provide proof before boarding flights.
“The U.S. Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, but it will respect the U.S. government’s position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-U.S. citizens,” the United States Tennis Association (USTA) said in a news release.
Earlier Sportscliffs reported that almost 12,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the USTA to work with the country’s government to allow Djokovic to compete in the U.S. Open despite his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Djokovic won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2021 but was unable to defend his Melbourne Park crown this year after being deported from Australia over his vaccination status in January.
He later said he was prepared to miss Grand Slam tournaments rather than take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Meanwhile, Serena Williams who returned to competition last month after a year-long absence, was added to the entry list for the Aug. 29-Sept. 11 Grand Slam in New York having been named in the draw for tune-up events in Toronto and Cincinnati.
Serena crashed out in the first round at Wimbledon and last appeared in the U.S. Open in 2020 when the six-time winner reached the semi-finals.
