Italian tennis player Marco Bortolotti was denied entry to the Grand Slam US Open because he played in Iran in 2015.
Despite efforts to obtain replacement visas, the Italian tennis professional did not attend and thus cannot participate in the last Grand Slam tournament of the year.
The 33-year-old Bortolotti was set to play his first career Grand Slam tournament in New York alongside Flavio Cobolli. But nothing will come of it. American authorities foiled the doubles specialist’s plans.
“It is with deep regret and disbelief that I am forced to withdraw from the US Open 2024 because Esta refused to let me into the US Open,” Bortolotti said on the social network. Esta allows entry into the USA and, among other things, checks in which countries a person has stayed in the past.
The authorities thus refused the Italian a visa and therefore entry to the USA. “The reason is that I played in Iran in 2015,” explains the 87th world doubles player.
At that time, Bortolotti participated in two ITF clay tournaments in Kish, Iran. Because of the political tension between the US and Iran, it is very difficult for people who have traveled to Iran in the past to get a visa to the US.
The 33-year-old player then tried to apply for a replacement visa, but this attempt also failed. “I have to take note now,” Bortolotti said on Instagram.
“I would still like to thank everyone who tried to help me with this incredible story. I will also overcome this disappointment and start again, as always,” he added.
This is not the first time Bortolotti has made headlines. About a year ago, he had a positive doping test for clostebol – just like his compatriot Jannik Sinner a few months ago (but, like Sinner, he was not convicted).
Source: sportweb.pravda.sk
