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Novak Djokovic’s wife gets into spat with Racquet magazine after it called out the unvaccinated star

Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s wife slammed Racquet Magazine for questioning the unvaccinated player’s decision to continue entering tournaments in countries he is barred from traveling to due to Covid-19 regulations.

Djokovic, 35, withdrew from the upcoming hard-court tournament in Montreal Thursday because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19 and is therefore not allowed to enter Canada.

For the same reason, as things stand now, he will also not be able to compete in the US Open later this month.

Racquet Magazine responded to the news Djokovic had pulled out of the Montreal Open by tweeting: ‘Dunno why this guy keeps entering tournaments hoping they’ll change their rules for him.’

His wife, Jelena, 36, was quick to come to his defense as she took aim at the publication as she quote tweeted: ‘Is this a real, international tennis magazine?! Wow.’

She also tagged the ATP Tour and one of their publicists, Nicola Arzani, along with a series of emojis displaying bewilderment and embarrassment.

The magazine responded, claiming they would ‘love’ to see the Serbian play in New York at the US Open later this month.

Hi Jelena! We’d love to see your husband play in New York, along with the rest of the tennis world, ‘she posted it. ‘Hopefully he’ll decide he can follow the rules.’

Tennis star Novak Djokovic's wife, Jelena (left) came to the tennis star's defense on Twitter

Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s wife, Jelena (left) came to the tennis star’s defense on Twitter

She slammed Racquet Magazine for questioning why the unvaccinated player continued to enter tournaments in countries he is barred from traveling to due to Covid-19 regulations

She slammed Racquet Magazine for questioning why the unvaccinated player continued to enter tournaments in countries he is barred from traveling to due to Covid-19 regulations

The Wimbledon champion will not be able to compete in the US Open as things currently stand

The Wimbledon champion will not be able to compete in the US Open as things currently stand

Jelena was quick to hit back with the specifics, questioning the logic behind the original tweet.

Hi! Based on tennis rules and ranking – Novak’s entry in the tournament was automatic,’ she said. ‘So, what was the logic behind your tweet?’

Racquet replied by insisting Djokovic should withdraw from all the events he cannot play due to his unvaccinated status now rather than wait until the last minute.

Jelena was quick to hit back with the specifics, questioning the logic behind the original tweet

Jelena was quick to hit back with the specifics, questioning the logic behind the original tweet

It wrote: ‘As of right now, he’s also automatically entered into Cincy and the USO—is he gonna withdraw from them now knowing he doesn’t want to follow rules or wait until the last minute like he’s just done for Montreal?

‘Or maybe after the draw is made like he did in Indian Wells?

‘Not trying to disrupt your Friday night, but since you came our way, it’d be great to get him to take his stand by withdrawing from those events now so the whole tennis world isn’t talking about him not getting a shot for weeks to eat.

‘A stand is only a stand if one takes it.’

The publication claimed Djokovic should withdraw from the events he cannot play in now

The publication claimed Djokovic should withdraw from the events he cannot play in now

Djokovic’s wife continued the spat as she argued that the publication should take a stand itself and stick to writing about tennis.

‘His most important stand is to be a tennis champion,’ she said. ‘And he took it. I mean, a stand is a stand.

‘Given that you are a tennis magazine- maybe focus on that in the weeks to come? Take a stand. Be what you are meant to be. A tennis magazine that writes about tennis.’

The 36-year-old fired back that the magazine should 'take a stand' itself

The 36-year-old fired back that the magazine should ‘take a stand’ itself

Djokovic has said he won’t get the shots, even if that means he can’t go to certain tournaments. He missed the Australian Open in January after being deported from that country and needed to sit out two events in the United States earlier this year.

Unvaccinated foreign citizens can’t go to Canada or the US, so Djokovic pulled out of Montreal a day before the draw is scheduled to take place for the tournament and is expected to have to sit out the US Open, which starts in New York on August 29.

However, the 21-time Grand Slam winner said on social media earlier this week that he remains hopeful he will be allowed in the tournament and will be ready to go should he get the OK.

‘I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to US,’ Djokovic wrote. ‘Fingers crossed!’

He proved he was preparing a he posted a video to his Instagram of him practicing.

Djokovic said he remains hopeful he will be allowed to play at the US Open in August

Djokovic said he remains hopeful he will be allowed to play at the US Open in August

It is not the first time Jelena has been embroiled in an online slanging match as she was previously involved in a debate after prominent tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg called her husband an ‘anti-vax poster boy.’

After Djokovic’s win in the Wimbledon men’s final, Rothenberg asked him whether he would get vaccinated soon in order to compete at the US Open in August.

‘You do still have time to get vaccinated before New York to make it in time for the US. Is that something you’ve completely closed your mind to as an option going forward?’ asked Rothenberg in the post-match press conference.

Djokovic’s reply was strong and succinct: ‘Yes.’

Rothenberg then took to Twitter to label the star Serb an ‘anti-vax poster boy’ who has played in his last Grand Slam for the year, unless there is a ‘swift change in US immigration law’.

Jelena didn’t take too kindly Rothenberg’s description of her husband and kicked off the very public online spat by taking issue with the description.

It is not the first time Jelena has been embroiled in an online slanging match over her husband

It is not the first time Jelena has been embroiled in an online slanging match over her husband

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US Open: Novak Djokovic still hopes to play in New York despite strict unvaccinated entry rules

Novak Djokovic said he remains hopeful he will be allowed to play at the US Open when it begins in late August, despite not being vaccinated against Covid-19.

The unvaccinated tennis star was booted out of Australia ahead of the Melbourne Slam back in January after the government decided he’d broken strict Covid-19 regulations and he failed with a legal challenge.

And the 35-year-old could face a repeat at Flushing Meadows but he insisted he is preparing to play at the US Open which begins next month.

Current rules require non-US citizens to show proof of being fully vaccinated before entering the country by air from a foreign nation. He would need an exemption to play.

And, Djokovic said on social media Saturday that he’ll be ready to go should he get the OK. The Serbian’s name appears on the entry list for the US Open, which will be held August 29 – September 11 in New York.

‘I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to US,’ Djokovic wrote.

‘Fingers crossed!’

The Serbian proved he was preparing a he posted a video to his Instagram of him practicing.

Fans had shown their support for the tennis star on social media earlier this week with #LetNovakPlay.

Novak Djokovic said he remains hopeful he will be allowed to play at the US Open in August

Novak Djokovic said he remains hopeful he will be allowed to play at the US Open in August

The Serbian shared a video of him practicing to Instagram as he thanked fans for their support

The Serbian shared a video of him practicing to Instagram as he thanked fans for their support

Supporters thanked Djokovic for being a role model and praised him for sticking to his principles.

One posted: ‘With failing politicians and personalities in the World our children look to examples like you in sport .. your principles and what you stand for and what you have sacrificed make you the hero in all of this charade .. thank you.’

Another wrote: ‘He will be remembered for more than the sport he mastered. His actions of him standing up for freedom of choice, will go down in history.’

Another claimed the world will be waiting for the decision, claiming the country would become a laughing stock if the US denies Djokovic entry.

The tennis star is unvaccinated against Covid-19 and would need an exemption to enter the US

The tennis star is unvaccinated against Covid-19 and would need an exemption to enter the US

Fans shared their support for the 21-time Grand Slam winner on social media this week

Fans shared their support for the 21-time Grand Slam winner on social media this week

They said: ‘The whole world will be watching to see if the US deny one of the healthiest and fittest athletes of all time play the global and mandatory #LetNovakPlay @usopen

‘They will become an even bigger laughing stock if they deny him; @SecBlinken @POTUS @CDCgov @CDCDirector @USCIS’

Meanwhile, one supporter wrote: ‘Not only are you one of the best players that’s ever lived, you have shown to be a human being who believes his decisions should be, just that.

‘The facts are coming out thick and fast. As everyday goes by. It’s proves you 100 made the right choice. Well done sir.’

Another insisted that Djokovic had provided the sport with many entertaining moments and fans should repay him with their support.

They shared: ‘You have given us so many joys, beautiful sensations and satisfaction, that the least we can do for you is to wish the best for you. And thank you for your words…idemo Nole.’

One supporter insisted that Djokovic had provided the sport with many entertaining moments

One supporter insisted that Djokovic had provided the sport with many entertaining moments

As of Saturday morning, almost 45,000 people had signed a petition to allow him to play

As of Saturday morning, almost 45,000 people had signed a petition to allow him to play

As of Saturday morning, almost 45,000 people had signed a Change.org petition asking the US Tennis Association and the federal government to reach an agreement for Djokovic, a 21-time Grand Slam winner, to be allowed to play.

The USTA has said it will adhere to federal rules and won’t seek an exemption for any player – even a three-time champion like Djokovic.

He also thanked fans for their support, which undoubtedly includes their participation in a petition drive.

‘I just wanted to take a moment and say to all of you how grateful I am to see so many messages of support and love from all around the world these days,’ he wrote to fans.

The 35-year-old said it felt 'special' to have fans wish for him to compete in the tournament

The 35-year-old said it felt ‘special’ to have fans wish for him to compete in the tournament

‘It feels special that people connect with my tennis career in such a loving and supportive way and wish for me to continue to compete.’

Djokovic wasn’t allowed to play at the Australian Open in January because of his refusal to be vaccinated. He lost to rival Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals at the French Open in May, then defeated Nick Kyrgios to win Wimbledon in July.

European media outlets reported this week that the Serbian-American Voting Alliance sent a letter to President Joe Biden, asking him to intervene to allow Djokovic to play.

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