Novak Djokovic Is Able To Play The French Open, But What About Wimbledon And The U.S. Open?

Novak Djokovic is currently in isolation in a Melbourne hotel after he was refused entry to Australia ahead of the Australian Open. It’s entirely possible he won’t participate in the first Grand Slam of 2022, although he’s currently awaiting an appeal hearing and no final decision has been made.

His career — and reputation — stand at a bit of a crossroads. Djokovic, after all, is tied with rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 Grand Slam titles apiece, and he would be the favorite to win his 10th Australian Open and record-breaking 21st major were he able to play at the tournament beginning Jan. 17.

“I would almost regard him as family – but like in all families you sometimes have disagreements,” said Djokovic’s former coach and six-time major champion Boris Becker.

“And on this occasion I think he is making a big mistake in not getting vaccinated. It is one that threatens what remains of his career and his chance to cement himself as the greatest player of all time.”

Former world No. 1 Jim Courier has said he believes the 34-year-old Djokovic can challenge for major titles until he’s 40 and would end up amassing somewhere around 25 or 26.

But that timeline could be slowed down if he isn’t able to play at all of the events this year as the Covid-19 pandemic rages on worldwide. So, what about the other Grand Slam events in 2022? Will the fact that he’s unvaccinated prevent him from playing at those events and adding to his total?

—FRENCH OPEN (May 22-June 5)

As of now, French sports minister Roxane Maracineanu said Djokovic would be able to take part at Roland Garros if he followed the country’s current protocols.

“He would not follow the same organizational arrangements as those who are vaccinated,” Maracineanu said to FranceInfo radio station.

“But he will nonetheless be able to compete [at Roland Garros] because the protocols, the health bubble, allows it.”

Still, president Emmanuel Macron is taking a hard line on the unvaccinated, vowing to limit “as much as possible their access to activities in social life”.

He added: “We have to tell [the unvaccinated], you will no longer be able to go to a restaurant, you will no longer be able to go for a coffee, you will no longer be able to go to the theatre, you will no longer be able to go to the cinema. We will continue to do this, to the end. This is the strategy.”

Djokovic won the French Open in 2016 and ‘21.

—WIMBLEDON (June 27-July 10)

According to one report, Djokovic is unlikely to face Covid vaccine exemption issues at Wimbledon but could have to do a 10-day quarantine.

Per inews.co.uk: “Current rules for unvaccinated travellers to the UK require to take a Covid-19 test two days before travel, two days after arrival and eight days after arrival, as well as quarantining for 10 full days. The quarantine requirements last summer were superseded by the bio-bubble.

“Djokovic could still face the 10-day quarantine requirement were he to arrive in the UK unvaccinated, although many of the houses that players regularly rent in SW19 have tennis courts attached. He would be hard pressed to find one with a grass court in the back garden though and the AELTC may look to make bio-secure arrangements to allow unvaccinated players to train at Wimbledon during their quarantine period.”

Djokovic has won Wimbledon six times: 2011, ‘14, ‘15, ’18,’19 and ’21.

—U.S. OPEN (Aug. 29-Sept. 11)

Under current New York City vaccine rules, players for home professional teams like the Knicks, Nets, Rangers and others must be vaccinated to compete in indoor arenas, but visiting players do not.

Kyrie Irving, of course, is unvaccinated like Djokovic and not permitted to play at Barclays Center or Madison Square Garden, but is now competing in road games for the Nets.

As for the U.S. Open, a year ago fans and all visitors had to show proof of vaccination before entering the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, but players did not. Djokovic famously played at the 2021 U.S. Open as he pursued the first calendar Grand Slam since Rod Laver in 1969, but was soundly defeated by Daniil Medvedev in the final.

So what’s the deal for this year? As Patrick McEnroe and Matt Futterman of The New York Times
NYT
pointed out on McEnroe’s “Holding Court” podcast, Djokovic could potentially play on the outdoor courts without a problem while unvaccinated, but what happens when it starts to rain and they close the roof on Arthur Ashe Stadium, making it an indoor venue? Does Djokovic get escorted out? Does he have to wear a mask? The semifinals and final of the Open are played in Ashe Stadium and it’s now common for the roof to close depending on weather conditions.

“At this point,” U.S. Open spokesman Chris Widmaier said via text on Friday, “all I can say is that we will follow all guidelines that are in place for New York City at the time of our event.”

The Serb has won the Open three times in 2011, ‘15 and ’18.