"Either Canada will need to change the rules regarding vaccination or Novak Djokovic will have to roll up his sleeves and receive the vaccine" - Canada Masters tournament director Eugene Lapierre
Novak Djokovic's troubles are likely to begin even before the US Open starts. The Wimbledon champion may not be permitted to play the Canada Masters this year, according to its tournament director.
Djokovic, who missed this year's Australian Open because of not being vaccinated, is likely to be barred from taking part in the upcoming US Open. And Canada tournament director Eugene Lapierre recently indicated that the prospects of the Serb playing the ATP Masters 1000 event in Montreal are bleak too since neither Djokovic nor the Canadian government are expected to change their stance any time soon.
The Canadian government currently does not permit unvaccinated foreigners to enter the country.
"The situation is clear - either Canada will change the rules regarding vaccination or he [Novak Djokovic] will have to roll up his sleeves and receive the vaccine. However, I do not consider either of those two scenarios likely," Eugene Lapierre said.
Novak Djokovic first won the tournament back in 2007, when he defeated Roger Federer in the final. Two consecutive Canadian Open wins followed for Djokovic in 2011 and 2012, when he defeated Mardy Fish and Richard Gasquet in the finals, respectively.
A win against Ken Nishikori in the 2016 finals enabled the Serbinator to win the tournament for the fourth time.
Vaccination woes have made it a roller coaster season for Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic's troubles began Down Under, when he was preparing to defend his Australian Open title. Having won the tournament nine times previously, the Serb was tied with arch rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer at 20 Grand Slam title wins when he arrived in Melbourne.
Much to his dismay, Djokovic's visa was revoked by the Australian government and he was subsequently forced to leave the country ahead of the tournament. Nadal then went on to bag his 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne.
Djokovic returned soon enough and won the Wimbledon title, but not before Nadal had defeated him in the French Open quarterfinals - a tournament that the Spaniard went on to win.
Having missed the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open for not being vaccinated, the former World No. 1 faces a similar prospect at the upcoming US Open.
His woes are unlikely to end soon as he is also likely to miss next year's Australian Open. That means he will be unable to play a Grand Slam until the French Open gets underway next year.