World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week’s ATP/WTA Indian Wells Masters event, organizers confirmed on Sunday with the Serb banned from entering the country. Djokovic cannot enter the United States because he has not been vaccinated against covid-19, but he has asked the US authorities for special permission to enter. The Indian Wells ATP 1000 event kicks off next week in the California desert and is followed by the prestigious tournament in Miami that Djokovic is now expected to miss unless US authorities change their minds.
The United States still does not allow unvaccinated international travelers into the country, and the Transportation Security Administration recently indicated that the policy would not change until at least mid-April.
Djokovic’s vaccination status saw him deported from Australia shortly before the 2022 Australian Open.
After winning Wimbledon, he also missed the US Open last year due to the travel restriction.
He returned to Australia in January, winning the 2023 Australian Open to equal a record 22 Grand Slam singles titles.
He took his match winning streak to 20 in Dubai last week before losing to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals on Friday.
Djokovic will be replaced on the field by Nikoloz Basilashvili, a brief statement said.
On Friday, both the US Tennis Association and US Open organizers expressed their support for Djokovic’s application to be allowed into the United States.
“Novak Djokovic is one of the greatest champions our sport has ever seen,” the US Open wrote on its official Twitter account.
“The USTA and the US Open are hopeful that Novak will be successful in his petition to enter the country and that fans will be able to see him back in action in Indian Wells and Miami.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is automatically generated from a syndicated feed.)
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