- Tuesday, March 11, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
Tennis star Novak Djokovic’s announcement that he would not be taking part in the US Open starting Monday (22) has left the fans deeply disappointed. The 35-year-old, who has won 21 Grand Slams, cited his no-vaccination stance as the reason as the US has a strict vaccination mandate to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus which has caused over a million deaths there.
While the fans were generally angry with the government accusing it of taking away people’s liberty to decide their own fate, some even attacked vaccine manufacturer Moderna saying it had a big role to play in forcing Djokovic to pull out of the tournament.
With @moderna_tx on the list of US Open sponsors 2022, is it a surprise that Novak #Djokovic can’t play?
Is this the reason they didn’t apply for an exemption? (Apart from wanting to help *certain* other players?)
Come on! It’s as clear as day #BoycottUSOpen pic.twitter.com/jPRxonQCc9
— Tennis Puneet ? (@TennisPuneet) August 25, 2022
According to reports, Moderna has moved to sponsor the US Open apparently to show to the fans it has done more than just inoculating people against the virus.
The US pharmaceutical company has also planned to set up a booth during the tournament to raise awareness about its mRNA technology.
Fans alleged that Djokovic did not fit into the company’s scheme saying an unvaccinated player laying claim to the title of a tournament which is being sponsored by a vaccine-manufacturing company may affect its image.
Here are some reactions that surfaced on Twitter:
Just imagine Novak Djokovic, by far the most famous worldwide athlete who’s not COVID vaccinated, holding the US Open trophy with Moderna, who’s only product is a COVID vaccine, as a sponsor in the background.
It’s not rocket science why the USTA didn’t apply for an exemption.
— Jason (@Certinfy) August 25, 2022
You couldn’t make this up
Novak Djokovic banned from the US open by their sponsor Moderna…#Djokovic pic.twitter.com/c7W3V5Yp4i— Gilet Le Jaune (@YellowVest9) August 27, 2022
Well, well, Moderna is an “official sponsor” of the US Open
Now we know the REAL REASON why Djokovic was excluded
Now we know?talks & human rights get trashed
Now we know it’s just about selling Moderna
Now we have MORE PROOF to follow the?
CRIMINALhttps://t.co/wptEjSACdT
— Craig Kelly (@CKellyUAP) August 27, 2022
Moderna one of the main sponsors for the US Open were never going to let Djokovic play let alone hand the trophy to an unvaccinated player!!
The levels of corruption & infiltration that tennis has dropped to is absolutely ridiculous!!
— Reggie?? (@Reggie61823972) August 25, 2022
Haters really said we were deluded and making up things when we called out the USTA for not trying to get Novak Djokovic a special exemption.
Now we find out Moderna is a main sponsor of this year’s US Open and it all makes sense.
We were right all along.
— Jason (@Certinfy) August 25, 2022
Brought to you by Moderna. Avoided by Djokovic.
You choose. https://t.co/vmwas0UOkY— Gary Russ ? (@GaryRussV8) August 27, 2022
