Bulgarian tennis player Grigor Dimitrov, the top overall seed at the Winston-Salem Open, defeated Dominic Thiem in the first set of their opening match 6-0 on Tuesday, August 23. However, Dimitrov was forced to retire due to illness symptoms while behind 4-2 in the second set.
The Bulgarian dominated the first set, earning 80 percent (12 of 15) of the points against the Austrian tennis player Thiem. However, he experienced dizziness and shortness of breath in the second set and opted to retire after consulting a doctor, according to Yahoo Sport.
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He got up to serve while down 2-4 after a medical timeout, but decided he felt too sick to continue and instead shook hands with Thiem while leaning over the net.
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Sad to see ?@domithiem is through to R3 after Grigor Dimitrov is forced to retire…
So much respect between these two ??#WSOpen pic.twitter.com/iOcWQVLHHG
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) August 24, 2022
Twenty-one-time major winner and former no. 1 ranked player Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the US Open because he cannot enter the country since he has not received the COVID-19 vaccine.
On Thursday, August 25, Djokovic tweeted, “Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open.”
Sadly, I will not be able to travel to NY this time for US Open. Thank you #NoleFam for your messages of love and support. ?? Good luck to my fellow players! I’ll keep in good shape and positive spirit and wait for an opportunity to compete again. ?? See you soon tennis world! ??
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) August 25, 2022
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guidance on international travel: “If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country.”
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