Novak Djokovic's Vaccine Stance & Visa Troubles

[Kieran]

The rule right now is he cannot enter. That’s clear. If he can’t enter, then he can’t play the USO. The USTA knows this, so they should remove his name. That’s not a political move; it’s practical. It’s stupid to keep the name of someone who can’t even enter the country on the entry list.

Yeah but when he entered, he was entitled to enter, and wait and see if the American vaccine rules changed. Or whether he might change his own mind and get vaccinated. That’s why he’s on the list.

He’s still entitled to wait and see, even though it’s somewhere between highly unlikely, and totally impossible, that he’ll get what he wants. There might be stuff going on in the background where they ask him if he’s coming, and we’ll know soon enough, but I don’t blame him for hanging in there until the grim death on this, and if it’s selfish, well so what? He’s earned the right to be selfish…

 

[tented]

Yeah but when he entered, he was entitled to enter, and wait and see if the American vaccine rules changed. Or whether he might change his own mind and get vaccinated. That’s why he’s on the list.

He’s still entitled to wait and see, even though it’s somewhere between highly unlikely, and totally impossible, that he’ll get what he wants. There might be stuff going on in the background where they ask him if he’s coming, and we’ll know soon enough, but I don’t blame him for hanging in there until the grim death on this, and if it’s selfish, well so what? He’s earned the right to be selfish…

”Earned the right to be selfish” - what? So he’s earned the right to screw up the draw for everyone by not removing his name until after the draw ceremony? Come on …

 

[Kieran]

”Earned the right to be selfish” - what? So he’s earned the right to screw up the draw for everyone by not removing his name until after the draw ceremony? Come on …

Yes, he’s earned some goodwill from the tennis community, given what he’s achieved, and all the great moments he’s given us. So he screws up the draw. Momentarily. Until they shuffle the names around and present us with the draw.

At the moment we’re just assuming he won’t withdraw in time. He may…

 

[Moxie]

Yes, he’s earned some goodwill from the tennis community, given what he’s achieved, and all the great moments he’s given us. So he screws up the draw. Momentarily. Until they shuffle the names around and present us with the draw.

At the moment we’re just assuming he won’t withdraw in time. He may…

I still say the tournament needn't wait for him to withdraw. They can force the issue. Didn't they learn anything from Indian Wells? Call his representation tomorrow at 11:30am local. One simple question and only yes or no answer permitted: "Is Djokovic in possession of a valid visa to enter the US?" If the answer is no, they should consider it a withdrawal, and then it's done.

BTW, I don't think his getting vaccinated right now does any good. CDC says "fully vaccinated" which is 14 days after the last dose, so even if he took a "one-and-done" version, he needed to have done it 2 weeks ago.

 

[tented]

Yes, he’s earned some goodwill from the tennis community, given what he’s achieved, and all the great moments he’s given us. So he screws up the draw. Momentarily. Until they shuffle the names around and present us with the draw.

I’m not exactly sure what you mean here, but once the draw has been made, they’re not going to redraw it if he withdraws afterwards. They’ll have to shuffle up the seeds. (No. 17 will become No. 5, and the next eligible player to be seeded becomes No. 17.)

 

[Kieran]

I’m not exactly sure what you mean here, but once the draw has been made, they’re not going to redraw it if he withdraws afterwards. They’ll have to shuffle up the seeds. (No. 17 will become No. 5, and the next eligible player to be seeded becomes No. 17.)

Exactly. It takes less than five minutes, and they’ll do that if they have to…

 

[Kieran]

I still say the tournament needn't wait for him to withdraw. They can force the issue. Didn't they learn anything from Indian Wells? Call his representation tomorrow at 11:30am local. One simple question and only yes or no answer permitted: "Is Djokovic in possession of a valid visa to enter the US?" If the answer is no, they should consider it a withdrawal, and then it's done.

BTW, I don't think his getting vaccinated right now does any good. CDC says "fully vaccinated" which is 14 days after the last dose, so even if he took a "one-and-done" version, he needed to have done it 2 weeks ago.

This is what I said above, that “there might be stuff going on in the background where they ask him if he’s coming.” It’s highly unlikely that the USO officials are refreshing the page every five minutes waiting for something to change. I’m sure they’re in touch, and I’m sure Novak is fully aware of how limited his options have become. I think it’s a storm in a teacup, at this stage…

 

[TheSicilian]

Just been onto twitter

The Djokovic cult making out he is the victim for being called selfish I find it strange when Rafa pulled out of Toronto due to injury, not a freedom of choice the Nolefam were taking shots at Rafa for withdrawing last minute BEFORE the draw was made. Now Novax won't withdraw they are all for it encouraging him to not withdraw before the draw. Hypocrites! This whole Novax is hard done by being made out to be the victim is embarrassing. If he really is so desperate to play the USO he would get the vaccine. I can't believe after Australia these discussions are still happening

 

[TheSicilian]

Exactly. It takes less than five minutes, and they’ll do that if they have to…

Why should they have to do this though? It's makes the USO look like a joke. They should do what Tented said if by 11:30 tomorrow he has no permission by law to travel to the US he is not in the draw. It would also give Novax twitter fans another discrimination card to play.

 

[Kieran]

Why should they have to do this though? It's makes the USO look like a joke. They should do what Tented said if by 11:30 tomorrow he has no permission by law to travel to the US he is not in the draw. It would also give Novax twitter fans another discrimination card to play.

We don't know that they won't do that, though. We also don't know if the USO are wisely doing nothing, since it's unlikely that they'll contact every player who's in the draw to see if they're vaxxed. It would have been sensible for them to ask players to present some proof before the draw that they can enter the country, but I don't think they did this, and so have what we have.

You make glad, by the way, that I don't do Twitter...

 

[Moxie]

We don't know that they won't do that, though. We also don't know if the USO are wisely doing nothing, since it's unlikely that they'll contact every player who's in the draw to see if they're vaxxed. It would have been sensible for them to ask players to present some proof before the draw that they can enter the country, but I don't think they did this, and so have what we have.

You make glad, by the way, that I don't do Twitter...

Of course we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. That's why it's our job to over-analyze it and opine over it!

I don't know if the USO is requiring a vaxccination for players, but I will look. Of course you understand the difference between a US citizen and a non-resident alien. The tournament has a right to expect that non-resident players have a valid visa to enter the country. They may actually have to see it, because they pay them, meaning they have to be legal to work in the US. They only have to see the vax cert. if they are requiring players be vaccinated. Last I heard they were still deciding.

 

[Kieran]

Of course we don't know what's going on behind the scenes. That's why it's our job to over-analyze it and opine over it!

I don't know if the USO is requiring a vaxccination for players, but I will look. Of course you understand the difference between a US citizen and a non-resident alien. The tournament has a right to expect that non-resident players have a valid visa to enter the country. They may actually have to see it, because they pay them, meaning they have to be legal to work in the US. They only have to see the vax cert. if they are requiring players be vaccinated. Last I heard they were still deciding.

Exactly. But this is something that - for clarity's sake, and to stop fans getting upset about it - they probably should have done when the entry list opened. Tell players that they will have to present their bona fides at a certain time before the draw was to be made, so that if they're not eligible to enter the country, they won't be entered in the draw.

I don't think they've done that, and I expect we'd have heard by now if they did, but I have no issue with Djoker on any of this....

 

[Moxie]

Why should they have to do this though? It's makes the USO look like a joke. They should do what Tented said if by 11:30 tomorrow he has no permission by law to travel to the US he is not in the draw. It would also give Novax twitter fans another discrimination card to play.

I feel like he's making a bit of a patsy out of the tournament, too, if they don't take some kind of pro-active position before the draw. It's the closest thing they have to a real deadline...everything else would be rather arbitrary. Night before he's scheduled to play? An hour before? Just let him no-show and give the walkover? Give him a deadline, and I don't see what is a better one than the time the draw is scheduled to be made.

 

[Kieran]

I feel like he's making a bit of a patsy out of the tournament, too, if they don't take some kind of pro-active position before the draw. It's the closest thing they have to a real deadline...everything else would be rather arbitrary. Night before he's scheduled to play? An hour before? Just let him no-show and give the walkover? Give him a deadline, and I don't see what is a better one than the time the draw is scheduled to be made.

They may have done that, we don't know...

 

[Fiero425]

Yes, he’s earned some goodwill from the tennis community, given what he’s achieved, and all the great moments he’s given us. So he screws up the draw. Momentarily. Until they shuffle the names around and present us with the draw.

At the moment we’re just assuming he won’t withdraw in time. He may…

It wouldn't be the 1st time a USO draw was screwed up & it was w/o the help of this political hypocrsy! They did it on their own! Sympathy? None! ;-)

 

[TheSicilian]

I feel like he's making a bit of a patsy out of the tournament, too, if they don't take some kind of pro-active position before the draw. It's the closest thing they have to a real deadline...everything else would be rather arbitrary. Night before he's scheduled to play? An hour before? Just let him no-show and give the walkover? Give him a deadline, and I don't see what is a better one than the time the draw is scheduled to be made.

I agree a deadline just before the draw. Can you imagine the order of play for monday & he is scheduled to play the night session even though he is not in the country, that would be ridiculous & should not be allowed to happen it would make the tournament look bad.

 

[TheSicilian]

It wouldn't be the 1st time a USO draw was screwed up & it was w/o the help of this political hypocrsy! They did it on their own! Sympathy? NOT! ;-)

Murray? While I don't agree with anyone withdrawing after the draw has been made. There is a lot of difference between withdrawing at the last minute while waiting to see if an injury improves vs being unable to legally enter the country hosting the tournament at the time of the draw!

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

I am suggesting there should be a reasonable fine for player's who withdraw after a draw has been made, who haven't got a reasonable excuse? eg Novak at IW this year is a good example.

Good to see The Sicilian back

Sorry Kieren we will have to agree to disagree, I still love you I still believe Novak is being selfish and self serving in his refusal to withdraw.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Murray? While I don't agree with anyone withdrawing after the draw has been made. There is a lot of difference between withdrawing at the last minute while waiting to see if an injury improves vs being unable to legally enter the country hosting the tournament at the time of the draw!

Good to see you back, I have no problem with any player eg Murray withdrawing like he did, waiting to see if his injury improves, Novak knows he isnt allowed to play at the USO, there is a big difference, his delusional fans are telling him not to withdraw,? go figure.

 

[TheSicilian]

I feel like he's making a bit of a patsy out of the tournament, too, if they don't take some kind of pro-active position before the draw. It's the closest thing they have to a real deadline...everything else would be rather arbitrary. Night before he's scheduled to play? An hour before? Just let him no-show and give the walkover? Give him a deadline, and I don't see what is a better one than the time the draw is scheduled to be made.

Just been giving this some more thought, maybe it's just me but I quite like the idea of a slam draw being made the night before the tournament? That feels exciting to me. Would also maybe solve the problem of a player withdrawing after the draw.