On Wednesday, the US Open released the entry list for this year’s edition of the tournament. US Open organizers suggested in a statement that they do not plan to push through a special medical exemption granted to Novak Djokovic.
“Per ITF Grand Slam regulations, all eligible players are automatically entered into the men’s and women’s singles main draws based on their ranking 42 days prior to the first Monday of the event. The US Open does not have a vaccination mandate for players, but will respect the position of the United States government regarding travel to the country by unvaccinated non-US citizens,” the US Open said in a statement.
When Djokovic was asked about the US vaccination laws, he was very calm. “I’m a professional tennis player, I don’t get into politics or anything because that doesn’t interest me,” he said. “I have my position and I am in favor of the freedom to choose what is best for one.
I respect everything and everyone, and I hope that people at least respect my decision. If I have permission, I will be there. If I do not have it, I will not be; it is not World’s End.”
Djokovic won Wimbledon this year
Doubts around Novak Djokovic’s involvement at the US Open are down to travel restrictions.
“It’s a rough year for Djokovic,” Schett said. “You could see it in this way, and you can see it in the other way as a tennis player. It’s horrible because I still think if he would go to the US Open, would be able to play now, he is the favourite for me to win the title.
I have absolutely no doubt about that because to me, he’s the best tennis player, the most consistent tennis player out there. But then on the other side, he chose not to be vaccinated, and that’s fine, but then he has to live with the consequences as well, that he can’t enter certain countries”.
Notably, last year the total prize money was around $57.5 million. This year, they have increased it to $60 million, which will be massive for the players, particularly for the qualifiers and first-round players. According to US Open’s official website, players losing in the first round will get around $80,000.
Moreover, the round of 64 players will get $121,000, which has increased massively since the 2016 season. Meanwhile, the winner of the US Open will get $2,600,000 and the runner-up will receive $1,300,000.
