Novak Djokovic is still not vaccinated against the corona virus. A start at the US tournaments seemed impossible. Nevertheless, the tennis star was on the list of participants – now he has clarified the situation.
Novak Djokovic does not play in the ATP tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami. The former number one in the tennis world rankings justified this decision on Wednesday by saying that the US health authority CDC did not change its rules for entry and that he could not compete in the two events. The Serb had stated in a BBC interview in mid-February that he was still not vaccinated against the corona virus.
He was seeded number two in the top-flight event at Indian Wells. As a result of the withdrawal, the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov is now on the seeding list. The day before, the organizers of the Masters 1000 tournament, where Tommy Haas is tournament director, had announced that they were in contact with Djokovic’s team and that it was unclear whether the Serb could enter the USA.
Djokovic wishes his competitors every success
Djokovic himself wrote on Twitter: “The CDC has confirmed that the regulations will not change, so I cannot play in the USA. Good luck to those who participate in these great tournaments.”
Djokovic was expelled from the country just before the start of the Australian Open earlier this year and was therefore unable to defend his title in Melbourne. The long-time number one in the world had traveled to Australia believing that it had an entry permit.
A federal court, however, decided otherwise. Djokovic has played his only tournament this year in Dubai. There, only a negative PCR test was required to participate, but no vaccination against the corona virus.
