Novak Djokovic hits out at US Open for allowing unvaccinated Americans to play

Novak Djokovic has attacked the US Open for allowing unvaccinated players from America to play when he and other foreigners who refuse the jab are stopped from travelling.

Djokovic, who swept into the third round at Wimbledon in straight sets on Wednesday, has already said he is likely to sit out the season's last Grand Slam due to his hardline anti-vax stance.

He insists it won’t be “the end of the world” if he cannot travel, but, speaking to Serbian journalists, he suggested all unvaccinated players should be effectively banned given the restrictions facing non-American citizens.

Djokovic said he had been texting Tennys Sandgren since the American said he found it "shameful" that the USTA was helping Djokovic get the green light to compete.

Answering questions from Serbian journalists, he added: “I have been texting with Tennys Sandgren a few days ago. I wanted to thank him for the public support he has given me in this situation. What he said makes total sense – if unvaccinated players are not allowed to compete at the US Open, then it should be the case for everyone. I don’t see the medical logic behind it, that Tennys can play because he is a citizen of the USA, and I cannot."

Djokovic was deported from Melbourne in January over his single-minded but controversial stance, forcing him to abandon an assault on a 10th Australian Open title.

“Grand Slams are tournaments that are my priority at this stage of my career and of course I want to play in New York,” Djokovic added. “On the other hand, if I do not get a chance to do so, it is not the end of the world, we will look ahead. But right now, I am completely focused on Wimbledon.”

With no sign of the US authorities relaxing their rule requiring all visitors to be