Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic on U.S. Open entry list

Novak Djokovic is coming off a win at Wimbledon. Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports

Novak Djokovic on U.S. Open entry list even though he's still not vaccinated

By Chelena Goldman | Last updated 7/20/22

Novak Djokovic made it pretty clear after his victory at Wimbledon that he wasn't planning on playing in the U.S. Open because that would mean that he would have to get vaccinated.

But that didn't stop the tennis star's name from appearing on U.S. Open's entry list this week.

.@USOpen men's entry list includes Novak Djokovic as well as these men on protected ranking: Stan Wawrinka, Borna Coric, Kyle Edmund, Aljaz Bedene. Former finalist Kei Nishikori on alternate list pic.twitter.com/ONFKaUV1BM
— TennisNow (@Tennis_Now) July 20, 2022

As The Associated Press (h/t ESPN) and other outlets have already pointed out, having Djokovic's name on the list is a formality, and the list is based on players who are eligible through world rankings. Of course, that didn't stop the sports world from taking notice, given the heavy spotlight that Djokovic has been under this last year for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19 even if it means missing out on competitions.

The U.S. Tennis Association released a statement along with the lists saying that the organization will respect the government's stance on non-citizens coming into the country without the vaccine.

The USTA today released the men's and women's singles entry lists for the 2022 US Open, as well as this statement. pic.twitter.com/G9mC1XxjfR
— Jill Martin (@ByJillMartin) July 20, 2022

Djokovic said after his win at Wimbledon that he would wait "hopefully for some good news from USA because I would really love to go there." The good news Djokovic is looking for is an exemption, which he is very unlikely to get.

The Serbian tennis pro was deported from Australia and could not compete in the Australian Open because he tried to enter the country unvaccinated and without a medical exemption.

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