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Petition to allow Djokovic to play US Open nears 12,000 signatures
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Almost 12,000 people have signed an online petition calling for the United States Tennis Association (USTA) to work with the country’s government to allow Novak Djokovic to compete in the US Open despite his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine.
Djokovic will not be able to participate in the year’s final Grand Slam due to current rules under which travellers seeking to enter the United States have to be fully vaccinated and provide proof before boarding flights.
The 21-times major champion won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles in 2021 but was unable to defend his Melbourne Park crown this year after being deported from Australia over his vaccination status in January.
“There is absolutely no reason at this stage of the pandemic to not allow Djokovic to play at the US Open 2022,” said the change.org petition, which was launched on June 21.
“(The) US Government and USTA must work together to allow him to play … MAKE IT HAPPEN, USTA!”
The Serb, who retained his Wimbledon crown with a win over Australia’s Nick Kyrgios earlier this month, in February said he was prepared to miss Grand Slam tournaments rather than take the COVID-19 vaccine.
The main draw at the US Open begins on August 29.
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Andre Russell delivered a match-winning all-round performance as the Arabian Aces held off the UAE Bulls by eight runs in a low-scoring thriller at the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 on Friday.
The West Indies star struck a blistering 46 from just 18 balls before returning to claim three wickets for 12 runs, helping the Aces defend a target of 93 and secure their third victory in five matches.
The defending champions looked to have seized control early after reducing the Aces to 29/6 in 5.3 overs. But Russell, named Player of the Match, turned the innings around alongside Dwaine Pretorius, producing a crucial 60-run partnership from just 24 balls for the seventh wicket.
The Aces’ collapse began almost immediately. Muhammad Rohid bowled Tom Kohler-Cadmore for a first-ball duck, before Mohammad Amir struck twice in the second over, dismissing Paul Walter and trapping Alishan Sharafu lbw with successive deliveries.
Tahir Zaman troubles Aces
Tahir Zaman added to the damage by having Liam Livingstone caught in the fourth over. Romario Shepherd then removed captain Moeen Ali, while Tahir returned to bowl Sam Billings in the sixth, leaving the Aces in deep trouble.
Russell and Pretorius refused to let the innings drift away. Russell unleashed five fours and three sixes in his 18-ball assault, while Pretorius contributed 12 from 10 deliveries. Their stand lifted the Aces to 92/8 before Shepherd struck twice in the final over, dismissing both Pretorius and Russell.
The Bulls’ chase never gained sustained momentum as Russell made an immediate impact with the ball. He removed Aneurin Donald, Kieron Pollard and Sunil Narine to leave the champions under pressure.
Kieron Pollard attempts to change momentum
Pollard briefly threatened to change the course of the chase with 27 from 11 balls, while Shadab added 22 from 14. Andre Fletcher also chipped in with 19, but the Aces kept finding wickets at key moments.
Pretorius dismissed Khawaja Nafay and Shepherd, while Muhammad Arfan claimed the wickets of Fletcher and Shadab. The Bulls, who had slipped to 37/4, eventually finished on 84/7 from their 10 overs, falling eight runs short.
The result moved the Arabian Aces into third place with six points, level with second-placed Yas Lions. The UAE Bulls remained at the foot of the table with one win from five matches.
It was a busy day in the tournament, with United Tigers earlier beating Emirates Eagles by 24 runs and Royal Desert Champions defeating Yas Lions by 39 runs.
Abbas Afridi produced a late fireworks display, smashing three sixes in the final over to lift United Tigers to a 24-run win over Emirates Eagles, while Brandon King and Naseem Shah starred as Royal Desert Champions defeated Yas Lions by 39 runs in the 2026 Abu Dhabi T10 on Friday.
The two victories highlighted a thrilling day of action at Zayed Cricket Stadium on November 13, with United Tigers moving to the top of the points table after recording their fourth win in five matches.
Afridi’s late hitting proved decisive in the 13th match of the tournament, while Azmatullah Omarzai contributed with both bat and ball to help the Tigers defend their total of 143/5.
In the day’s other completed fixture, King struck a commanding half-century before Naseem dismantled the Yas Lions’ top order to secure a comfortable victory for Royal Desert Champions.
Afridi’s final-over assault takes Tigers to 143
United Tigers recovered from an early setback to post 143/5 in their 10 overs after being asked to bat first.
Sahibzada Farhan departed for eight off five balls in the opening over, caught by Srikar Bharat off Trent Boult. Captain Fakhar Zaman and Joe Clarke then steadied the innings, putting together 40 runs from 22 deliveries.
Zaman made 26 off 13 balls before Hardus Viljoen dismissed him in the fifth over. Haider Razzaq then bowled Avishka Fernando for two, leaving the Tigers at 70/3.
Omarzai changed the momentum with a blistering 33 off just nine deliveries, including three fours and three sixes. He added 36 runs with Clarke in only 10 balls before David Wiese ended his innings in the eighth over.
Clarke contributed 33 off 20 balls before retiring out at the end of the ninth over.
The final over belonged to Afridi, who smashed three sixes to finish unbeaten on 18 from six deliveries. Iftikhar Ahmed added further impetus with an unbeaten 16 off five balls as the Tigers collected 22 runs from the final over to reach 143/5.
Hales fights back but Eagles fall short
The Emirates Eagles struggled to build momentum in their chase after Omarzai removed Kyle Mayers for 13 in the second over.
Alex Hales and Shimron Hetmyer attempted to revive the innings with a 74-run partnership from 34 balls. Hetmyer scored 22 off 12 deliveries before Afridi dismissed him in the eighth over.
Hales kept the chase alive with an unbeaten 67 off 31 balls, striking three fours and six sixes. Captain Rovman Powell remained not out on 12 from nine deliveries, but the Eagles could not find the scoring rate required.
They finished on 119/2, 24 runs short of the Tigers’ total.
Omarzai was named Player of the Match for his all-round contribution, having scored 33 runs and taken one wicket.
Brandon King’s 66 powers Champions to 136
Royal Desert Champions produced an impressive batting display to set Yas Lions a target of 137 in the 14th match of the tournament.
Phil Salt and Brandon King gave the Champions a strong start, putting on 46 runs from 21 balls before Akeal Hosein dismissed Salt for 24 off 12 deliveries.
Captain Nicholas Pooran joined King and added further momentum with a 51-run partnership from just 20 balls. Pooran struck four sixes in his 26 off 11 deliveries before David Willey had him caught by Andries Gous in the seventh over.
King continued to dominate, reaching 66 off 28 balls with six fours and five sixes. Jason Holder eventually dismissed him in the ninth over.
Muhammad Waseem was run out without scoring, while Gulbadin Naib provided a late flourish with an unbeaten nine off two balls, including a six. The Champions finished on 136/4.
Naseem Shah tears through Lions’ top order
The Yas Lions’ chase never gathered momentum as Naseem Shah struck twice early to put the Champions firmly in control.
Naseem removed James Vince for eight and Ansh Tandon for one, while Maheesh Theekshana contributed with the dismissal of Gous, who was caught without scoring. The Lions slumped to 12/3.
Dasun Shanaka was dismissed for nine by Ali Naseer, leaving the side struggling at 24/4.
Tom Moores and Karim Janat offered some resistance, adding 48 runs for the fifth wicket. Moores remained unbeaten on 40 from 21 balls, while Janat scored 32 off 13 deliveries.
Naseem broke the partnership by dismissing Janat, caught by Salt. Chris Jordan then bowled Holder for a duck, leaving the Lions at 73/6.
The lower order couldn’t mount a recovery, and Yas Lions finished on 97/6 after 10 overs, handing the Champions a 39-run win.
Naseem finished with figures of 3/17, while Theekshana and Jordan each took one wicket.
King was named Player of the Match for his match-winning 66.
With United Tigers moving to the top of the standings after their fourth win in five matches, the competition for positions in the Abu Dhabi T10 table continues to intensify.
Andre Russell stars as Arabian Aces stun UAE Bulls in Abu Dhabi T10 thriller
Abu Dhabi T10: Afridi’s late sixes power United Tigers as Champions beat Yas Lions
