Novak Djokovic's presence on the US Open entry list should come with a penalty, Liam Broady says.
Through Broady did not cite Djokovic by name, he made a clear reference to the 21-time Grand Slam champion's US Open status in a Twitter post ripping players who make late withdrawals from Grand Slams.
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Wimbledon champion Djokovic is on the US Open entry list though he is unvaccinated and unable to enter the United States are current U.S. government regulations for unvaccinated foreign travelers.
Some, including Hall of Famer John McEnroe, have said "it's a joke" Djokovic isn't permitted to play the Open.
"Honestly, I don't even see the other side [of the argument]," McEnroe told the media in an ESPN Zoom call to promote the network's US Open coverage. "Because he's the one that's risking more, isn't he? He's the one that's not vaccinated, if you go by that particular point. And he's willing to do that."
Broady says since Djokovic knows he's likely not permitted to play, he should be penalized for a late withdrawal because it denies a lower-ranked player entry into the main draw.
"There should be a rule against late withdrawals from slams when you know you aren’t going to play," Broady wrote on Twitter. "Really tough on number 1 seeds in slam qualifying seeing players they know aren’t playing on the main draw list but still having to going through qualifying."
Djokovic supporters say the former world No. 1 has every right to be on the entry list in hopes U.S. government regulations will be eased allowing him entry into the country.
World No. 131 Broady says the counter argument to improve your ranking to ensure main-draw entry is "insane" because it ignores how lucky losers "of any ranking" can gain entry to the main draw with a late withdrawal..
"I actually think it’s insane that peoples response is “get your ranking up," Broady said. "When the person who is 1 in qualies is the highest ranked but an LL of any ranking could then take the place of the late withdrawal? Where’s your logic people."
Broady won his US Open first-round qualifying match and is scheduled to play world No. 162 Dimitar Kuzmanov in round two on Court 13.
The US Open draw is set for today. Main-draw play begins on Monday.
Photo credit: Garrett Ellwood/USTA