Not vaccinated against Covid-19, Novak Djokovic is prevented from entering the United States and will not be able to participate in the Masters 1000 in Miami, tournament director James Blake announced on Saturday March 18.
After the Indian Wells Masters 1000, Novak Djokovic is now deprived of that of Miami. The world number 1 had unsuccessfully requested a special exemption from local authorities in recent weeks. And this despite the support received from the American Tennis Federation and the organizers of the US Open.
“We did what we could. We have tried to talk to the government, but that is not our responsibility. We tried to get an exemption for Novak Djokovic, but it was not possible. We would very much like to have him with us, he is our greatest champion, a six-time winner here,” James Blake told Tennis Channel.
Novak Djokovic will therefore not have received any preferential treatment, because Washington does not allow entry into the country to non-vaccinated international travelers. And the US Transportation Security Agency (TSA) recently indicated that this measure will not change until at least mid-April.
Novak Djokovic’s last game on American soil was in 2021
Aged 35, “Nole”, co-record holder of the number of Grand Slams won with Rafael Nadal since his coronation at the Australian Open earlier this year, is certainly the most famous sportsman to refuse to be vaccinated. against Covid-19.
For this reason, he had been expelled from Australia, shortly before the 2022 edition of the Major in Melbourne. The following months, he was not allowed to come to the United States to defend his chances at Indian Wells and the US Open.
Novak Djokovic’s last game on American soil was in 2021, at Flushing Meadows.
The Miami Open begins next Wednesday and will last until Sunday, April 2.
