Novak Djokovic will miss subsequent week’s Miami Open after being denied an exemption that might have allowed him to enter the U.S. regardless of not being vaccinated in opposition to COVID-19, match director James Blake stated Friday.
“We tried to get Novak Djokovic to be allowed to get an exemption, however that wasn’t capable of occur,” Blake informed Tennis Channel. “Clearly, we’re one of many premier tournaments on the earth. We would prefer to have the perfect gamers that may play. We did all that we may. We tried to speak to the federal government, however that is out of our arms.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott had been amongst these calling on the Biden administration to permit Djokovic to enter the U.S. and compete on the match he has gained six instances, most just lately in 2016.
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Djokovic, 35, can be lacking the continuing Masters match in Indian Wells, California, because of his incapability to safe the exemption.
The U.S. at the moment bars unvaccinated foreigners from entry into the nation, a coverage that’s anticipated to be lifted when the federal government ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations Could 11.
A U.S. Tennis Affiliation spokesperson stated Saturday that the group is “very hopeful” that Djokovic will probably be allowed into the nation for the US Open, which begins Aug. 28.
“We’re very hopeful that the coverage stopping Novak Djokovic from coming into the US will probably be rescinded, or lapse, within the close to future,” the USTA’s Chris Widmaier wrote to The Related Press. “No COVID-19 restrictions are in place on the U.S. Open for any participant, fan or different attendee. Novak, one in every of our sport’s nice champions, could be welcome to compete on the 2023 U.S. Open.”
Djokovic, who missed final yr’s Australian Open after being deported from that nation due to his vaccination standing, has stated he would skip Grand Slams reasonably than obtain a COVID-19 shot.
He gained his record-tying twenty second Grand Slam on the Australian Open in January. He has not performed at Indian Wells or the Miami Open since 2019.
A consultant for Djokovic stated the participant would make no additional remark concerning his absence from the Miami match and that he deliberate to return to the tour on the Monte Carlo Masters clay-court occasion that begins April 9.
Djokovic will then proceed his preparations for the French Open in Could by taking part in within the Srpska Open in Banja Luka, Bosnia.
Reuters contributed to this report.
