(Los Angeles) Serena Williams and Novak Djokovic are registered for the Cincinnati tournament next month, with the prospect of a possible participation in the Open of the United States, the organizers announced on Tuesday.
Posted yesterday at 9:36 p.m.
The former no. 1 in the world to 23 Grand Slam titles, named last week to the entry list for Canada’s tournament next month, joins a star group for the hard-court tournament.
She will be joined by world number one Iga Swiatek and former champions including Victoria Azarenka, Madison Keys, Garbine Muguruza and Karolina Pliskova at the tournament, which takes place Aug. 13-21 in Cincinnati.
Williams, winner of the tournament in 2014 and 2015, signed up under the protected ranking rule, which allows players who have been absent from the circuit for a long time due to injury to still participate in certain tournaments.
The 40-year-old American, who hadn’t played in a year, played her first singles match in the first round of Wimbledon last month.
She is now accelerating her comeback ahead of the US Open next month.
The men’s draw includes recent Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, but if the Serbian star doesn’t change his mind about refusing to get a COVID-19 shot, he won’t be able to take part.
PHOTO DADO RUVIC, REUTERS ARCHIVES
Serbian Novak Djokovic, July 13
The United States prohibits unvaccinated foreign visitors from entering the country, and Djokovic has previously said he still has no plans to get vaccinated.
Earlier this month, he admitted he was unlikely to play in the United States unless entry requirements changed.
“I would like to play at the United States Open, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s not the end of the world, nor the first Grand Slam I have to give up,” he assured.