LETTER: Tennis star can’t play the U.S. Open because he’s unvaccinated

Peter Stager Bullhead City, Arizona

3 years ago

FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2018, file photo, Serbia's Novak Djokovic, right, talks with his coache ... — FILE – In this Jan. 14, 2018, file photo, Serbia’s Novak Djokovic, right, talks with his coaches Radek Stepanek, left, and Andre Agassi during a practice session ahead of the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia. (AP Photo/Dita Alangkara, File)

Back on July 31, I read in the Review-Journal that Novak Djokovic was training with the intention of playing at the U.S. Open despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19. The United States doesn’t allow unvaccinated non-citizens to enter the country. Mr. Djokovic was forced to withdraw.

I would like to understand, then, how some 2 million non-citizens who are unvaccinated have been allowed into the country this year while a healthy 21-time major champion is not allowed to play tennis here?