Sport

The 20-time grand slam Tennis Champion, Novak Djokovic has Wednesday announced that he has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open and the Miami Open due to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's COVID-19 travel regulations. Djokovic made the announcement on Twitter, citing the US CDC's COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign visitors as the reason for his withdrawal from the events, saying "While I was automatically listed in the [BNP Paribas Open] and [the Miami Open], I knew it would be unlikely I'd be able to travel,"

Rafael Nadal has now become the first man to win 21 Grand Slam titles after defeating Daniil Medvedev in five-set and has now moved one ahead of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, each of whom has captured 20 major singles titles.

In the early hours of Thursday morning, World No1 and defending Australian champion Novak Djokovic was denied entry into Australia after his visa was cancelled by border force officials at Melbourne airport. Djokovic was granted a controversial exemption to enter Australia and compete in the Australian Open, but was held up at Melbourne airport by authorities for several hours before his visa was cancelled. Djokovic, who has publicly criticised mandatory vaccines, has refused to disclose his inoculation status and said he had been granted a medical exemption to compete in Australia.

Novak Djokovic has ended Rafael Nadal's reign at the French Open with a four-set win in a classic semi-final which will be ranked among the all-time great matches on the Roland Garros clay. Djokovic had won 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 against the last four times French Open champion Nadal who was going for a record-extending 14th title.

Tennis No.2, Naomi Osaka has on Monday announced that she was withdrawing from the French Open tournament following her refusal to address the media and subsequently being fined. “The best thing for the tournament, the other players and my well-being is that I withdraw so that everyone can get back to focusing on the tennis going on in Paris,” Osaka wrote on Twitter.

Naomi Osaka is now on course to defend the US Open Grand Slam title she won last year after ending Serena Williams' bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam. The 23-year-old will face 22nd seed American Jennifer Brady for the title on Saturday.