The ‘Novax’ Djokovic saga continues. His status as not vaccinated against Covid-19 still prevents the world number 1 from playing tennis in the United States. The Serb had to give up participating in the Indian Wells Masters 1000 because he had not obtained special authorization to enter the territory. “Novak Djokovic withdrew from the tournament” taking place in the Californian desert and which is due to start on Wednesday, the organizers announced on Sunday evening, in a short press release adding that Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili will take the place of world number 1 in the men’s draw.
“Nole” had requested a special exemption from local authorities in recent weeks. “If it is denied to me, I will withdraw from Indian Wells of course, before the draw”, he had assured. He had to come to terms with it. And if the authorities have not publicly communicated their response to his request, the reason for the forced absence of the co-recordman of the number of Grand Slams won (22, like Rafael Nadal), is hardly a mystery: the absence of vaccination passport.
In recent days, many voices have been heard to plead his case. “It would be a shame in my eyes if he were not allowed to come” in the United States, had declared in particular Tommy Haas, the director of the Indian Wells tournament. The American Tennis Federation and the organizers of the US Open had done their best, supporting his approach. But without effect. Djokovic will therefore not receive any preferential treatment from Washington, which does not allow entry into the country to unvaccinated international travelers.
He should also be deprived of the Miami Open
The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently indicated that this measure will not change until at least mid-April. Also, in addition to the Indian Wells event which will end on March 19, Djokovic should, barring a reversal of the situation, have to give up participating in the other Masters 1000 which will follow, the Miami Open scheduled for March 22 in April 2.
The 35-year-old Serb is certainly the most famous athlete to refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19. This caused him some big worries, even beyond the impossibility of participating in tournaments, since he had been expelled from Australia shortly before the 2022 edition of the Major in Melbourne, at the end of a judicial soap opera. By trying to circumvent the vaccination obligation, then in force in Australia, with a derogation deemed unjustified by the Australian authorities, Djokovic had to spend a few days in a detention center, before having to leave the country.
The following months, he was not allowed to come to the United States to defend his chances at Indian Wells in the spring and the US Open in the fall. So much so that the last time he played a match on American soil was at Flushing Meadows in 2021, beaten in the final by the Russian Daniil Medvedev who deprived him of a calendar Grand Slam.
But as a champion, perhaps the greatest that tennis has ever produced, the Serb recovered from these setbacks and impediments, winning Wimbledon last year and above all returning through the front door to the Open. Australia in January, to win its 22nd Major. His frustration at not being able to claim a sixth title this year at Indian Wells must be all the greater, as he is having one of the best season starts of his career, with another title obtained in Adelaide, before conceding his first defeat in 2023, this week, in the semi-finals of the Dubai tournament, against Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic will therefore still have to take his troubles patiently, before hitting balls in the United States. Probably this summer for the hard court tour which will culminate in the US Open.