US Congress Members Lobby for Djokovic to Play US Open

Over 46,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the United States Tennis Association, USTA, to work with the US government to allow Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic to enter the US to compete in the US Open tournament.

Some 20 days before the tennis tournament should start, some US Congress members are also urging authorities and President Joe Biden to make an exception in the COVID-19 entry rules and allow Djokovic to enter the country.

Republican Congressman Louie Gohmert on Wednesday on Twitter posted a letter he and seven colleagues sent to the President some days earlier.

"In certain ways, Mr Djokovic is a perfect ambassador, modelling how humanity is diminished and harmed when the government places itself in the position of the authority that only the individual, in consultation with God and chosen others, should rightly occupy," the letter said.

Besides Gohmert, Republicans Ralph Norman, Mary Miller, Thomas Massie, Randy Weber, Brian Mast, Billy Long and Andy Biggs also signed the letter.

Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney sent a letter to US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken on Tuesday, which urged him "to permit tennis superstar Novak Djokovic, among others, to enter the United States to compete in the 2022 US Open".

"Even though several Americans who are unvaccinated will take part in the tournament this year, prominent players from around the world, including Novak Djokovic, will not be able to participate due to the COVID-19 vaccine mandate instituted by President Joseph R. Biden", Tenney wrote.

"I strongly urge you to issue National Interest Exemptions for unvaccinated members of the Association of Tennis Professionals who otherwise meet the high standards of eligibility to compete...