"It's very sad but I'm not crying about it" - Ruud on Djokovic missing US Open

Novak Djokovic will miss the US Open, which Casper Ruud acknowledges is "sad that politics will get in his way," but he is not "crying about it" because he is focused on his own career.

Novak Djokovic won't play at the US Open and Casper Ruud is not sad about it because it increases his own chances in the event which is a priority for him.

"It’s an individual sport so all the players will think about themselves firstly, so it’s not too much talk, honestly. I think it’s sad that politics will get in his way, or these rules will get in his way. He’s chasing Rafa [Nadal] with one more ahead of him in the Grand Slam count, so he’s chasing history." - said Ruud while adding:

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"I do think that it could be in the best interest of the country. He has won there many times before and he has brought a great crowd to the stadium. You can argue that it's in the best interest of the country. He’s a big superstar. Having him and Rafa in the final would be so epic, because everyone knows what’s on the line. I do think it’s very sad [but] for me personally, I'm not crying about it. But as a colleague I’m sad about it."

Rudd questioned if the pandemic's severity made Djokovic's immunization before to traveling to the US absolutely necessary as he doesn't see him as a threat:

"I don’t see him as a threat to the public even though he’s not vaccinated."

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