Emily
Editor, Senior Moderator
https://www.newsweek.com/vaccine-ba...jokovic-its-hurting-americans-opinion-1786209
The Vaccine Ban on Foreigners Isn't Just Hurting Djokovic. It's Hurting Americans
Andy Gorel , photographer, journalist, recording artist
On 3/7/23 at 9:01 PM EST
Novak Djokovic's bid for his sixth Indian Wells title ended Sunday night, not with a netted backhand or unreturnable ball but with a 13-word Facebook post from the BNP Paribas Open itself: "World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 BNP Paribas Open."
That's it. That was the whole statement. There was no link to a further explanation, and on the tournament's website, nary an article was to be found even acknowledging the living legend's withdrawal.
Why? Because there's nothing more to say. Everyone knows the story; we just lived it six months ago. Arguably the most consistent player of the past decade, Djokovic was barred from the game because the United States still won't grant unvaccinated foreign nationals entry, and the Department of Homeland Security wouldn't accept his request for an exemption.
...
While even the world's most COVID-strict countries like Canada and Australia have long since left similar protocols in the past, the United States still has zero tolerance whatsoever for unvaccinated non-Americans...
The Vaccine Ban on Foreigners Isn't Just Hurting Djokovic. It's Hurting Americans
Andy Gorel , photographer, journalist, recording artist
On 3/7/23 at 9:01 PM EST
Novak Djokovic's bid for his sixth Indian Wells title ended Sunday night, not with a netted backhand or unreturnable ball but with a 13-word Facebook post from the BNP Paribas Open itself: "World No.1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 BNP Paribas Open."
That's it. That was the whole statement. There was no link to a further explanation, and on the tournament's website, nary an article was to be found even acknowledging the living legend's withdrawal.
Why? Because there's nothing more to say. Everyone knows the story; we just lived it six months ago. Arguably the most consistent player of the past decade, Djokovic was barred from the game because the United States still won't grant unvaccinated foreign nationals entry, and the Department of Homeland Security wouldn't accept his request for an exemption.
...
While even the world's most COVID-strict countries like Canada and Australia have long since left similar protocols in the past, the United States still has zero tolerance whatsoever for unvaccinated non-Americans...