Novak Djokovic will not participate in the BNP Paribas Open this month after the Biden administration denied him entry to the United States for not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
Djokovic, 35, applied for a vaccine exemption, which would have allowed him to enter the United States without being vaccinated, but was denied by the Department of Homeland Security.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion subsequently withdrew from the combined ATP-WTA event, which begins on Wednesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.
The event includes matches in both California and Miami, Florida. It runs until March 19.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC ASKS FOR PERMISSION TO ENTER TOURNAMENTS DUE TO VACCINE STATUS: ‘NOT IN MY HANDS’
Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball to Daniil Medvedev during their semi-final match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 2, 2023. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)
Djokovic, who is from Serbia, is currently ranked No. 1 in the world by the Association of Professional Tennis Players.
In Djokovic’s last professional appearance, he lost in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships to 27-year-old Russian Daniil Medvedev.
Medvedev defeated his compatriot Andrey Rublev, 25, in the final.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev after being defeated by him during day 13 of Dubai Duty Free Tennis at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 3, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Amin Mohammed Jamali/Getty Images)
FLORIDA LAWMAKERS URGED PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GRANT NOVAK DJOKOVIC A WAIVER TO PLAY IN THE US DESPITE VACCINE STATUS
Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, both Republicans from Florida, expressed their support for the Serbian tennis star and called on Congress to act to remove President Biden’s «false vaccination mandate.»
«It has been brought to our attention that your administration has received a request to waive the current vaccination mandate for international travelers entering the United States for men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic. We are writing to urge you to grant the requested waiver, which is necessary to allow Mr. Djokovic to compete in the Miami Open professional tennis tournament taking place in our home state of Florida beginning March 19, 2023,” the Republicans said in a joint letter.
Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates his victory at the end of the men’s quarterfinal match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 3, 2023. (Waleed Zein/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
In the letter, Florida lawmakers even reminded Biden that he had previously said the pandemic was «over.»
«In September 2022, you clearly stated before a national audience on 60 Minutes that ‘the [COVID-19] the pandemic is over,’ and earlier this year, Dr. Anthony Fauci published a professional article acknowledging the limited efficacy of vaccines in protecting against respiratory pathogens, such as the novel coronavirus,» the senators continued. » In light of these changing circumstances, and admissions by you and members of your own administration, the current restrictive vaccine mandate you have maintained for international travelers entering the United States appears outdated and worthy of rescission.»
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Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after the loss to Daniil Medvedev during day 13 of Dubai Duty Free Tennis at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 3, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Amin Mohammed Jamali/Getty Images)
They added: «Mr. Djokovic is a world-class athlete in peak physical condition who is not at high risk of serious complications from COVID-19. It seems illogical and out of line with the views of his own administration to not grant him the resignation he is seeking to being able to travel to the United States to compete in a professional event.”
COVID-19 emergency declarations in the US will expire in May.
Djokovic did not compete at the US Open last year due to his COVID vaccine status and has made his decision not to get vaccinated public.
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Georgian tennis player Nikoloz Basilashvili moved to the Indian Wells draw after Djokovic’s withdrawal.
Associated Press contributed to this report