For those who do not keep up with the world of tennis, world number one and Serbian national Novak Djokovic has dominated the sport by holding the top spot internationally for a record 378 weeks.
Djokovic and Rafael Nadal share the record for the most major victories (22) despite Djokovic being younger. He is that good.
However, there is a problem for Djokovic as he looks to play in the Miami Open later this month: Novak Djokovic is unvaccinated.
Despite the rest of the world moving on from mandates and COVID policies as a whole, President Joe Biden’s (D) international travel vaccine mandate will require the President to sign off for the Serbian star in order for him to compete in Miami.
Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) have a sent a letter to the President urging him to approve the waiver.
“We write to urge you to grant the requested waiver, which is necessary to allow Mr. Djokovic to compete in the Miami Open professional tennis tournament held in our home state of Florida beginning March 19, 2023,” write the Senators.
They would go on mention the fact that both President Biden and Dr. Anthony Fauci have downplayed the virus’ significance in American daily life compared to two or three years ago. Biden himself even said that the pandemic was “over.”
“In September 2022, you plainly declared to a national audience on 60 Minutes that ‘the [COVID-19] pandemic is over,’ and, earlier this year, Dr. Anthony Fauci published a professional article acknowledging the limited efficacy of vaccines in protecting against respiratory pathogens, like the novel coronavirus,” the Senators stated.
“In light of these changing circumstances, and admissions by you and members of your own administration, the current restrictive vaccine mandate which you have maintained for international travelers entering the United States seems outdated and worthy of rescission,” the Senators concluded.
The Miami Open is one of the biggest non-major events all season.
