Novak Djokovic of Serbia wears a mask as he listens to the national anthem before the Group F Davis Cup match between Serbia and Austria in Innsbruck, Austria on November 26, 2021.
Michael Probst / AP
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Michael Probst / AP
Novak Djokovic of Serbia wears a mask as he listens to the national anthem before the Group F Davis Cup match between Serbia and Austria in Innsbruck, Austria on November 26, 2021.
Michael Probst / AP
Novak Djokovic said he will not be able to compete in hard court tennis tournaments in Indian Wells, California, or Miami because he has not been vaccinated and cannot travel to the US.
20-time Grand Slam champion tweeted on Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control “has confirmed the rules won’t change, so I won’t be able to compete in the US”
Djokovic, who has just dropped to 2nd place on the ATP rankings, has played only one tournament so far in 2022 because he has not received a shot against COVID-19. He was deported from Australia in January and was not allowed to attempt to defend his title at Melbourne Park.
Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open for his 21st major title, breaking ties with Djokovic and Roger Federer for the most claimed title by a man in tennis history.
Djokovic, 34, from Serbia said in April 2020, when the coronavirus pandemic raged, he opposed the need for vaccinations to travel. In June of that year, when professional tennis was on hiatus, he staged a series of exhibition matches in Serbia and Croatia with no rules requiring social distancing or face coverings – a tournament that postponed after several players, including Djokovic, received COVID-19.
His name was included in the draw for the BNP Paribas Open in California on Tuesday, although his status has increased because the US requires foreign visitors to be vaccinated to enter the country. . Also, the league has previously announced that everyone on site at Indian Wells will need to be fully vaccinated.
“Although I was automatically shortlisted for the @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @MiamiOpen draws,” Djokovic wrote on Wednesday, “I know it will be difficult to travel.”
Indian Wells is underway this week; The Miami Open begins on March 21.
“We understood from the start that Novak’s attendance at the Miami Open was the deciding factor in his entry to the United States, which we knew would be the one,” said James Blake, tournament director in Miami. a big step,” said James Blake, Miami tournament director. “We have an incredibly extensive and talented roster of players, and look forward to hosting a great event.”
Chris Widmaier, a spokesman for the United States Tennis Association, which runs the US Open, said the organization would have no comment other than to note that the event follows government guidance. The American Grand Slam is scheduled to begin on August 29.
It was a turbulent start to 2022 for Djokovic, who spent time in custody and on trial in an 11-day saga in Australia before he was sent home. During the legal exchange, Djokovic said he was not vaccinated and thinks he should get a medical exemption from the rules that require the injection because, he said, he tested positive for COVID-19 again on Sunday. December. He also said he took part in a one-on-one interview with a reporter despite that result.
In February, Djokovic said in an interview that he would not be vaccinated, even if he needed to take part in events like the French Open or Wimbledon.
On the last day of last month, Djokovic fell out of No. 1 for the first time in two years, slipping to No. 2 behind Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic’s total of 361 weeks at the top of the ATP is a record, as are the seven times he’s finished a season at No.
And on March 1, Djokovic announced that he and coach Marian Vajda had split after 15 years together.
In the only tournament of the year, Djokovic lost to Jiri Vesely in the quarterfinals of the Dubai Championships.
