Denied entry to the US, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic will not be able to compete at the Indian Wells tournament after failing to secure special permission to enter the country.
The Serbian athlete, who is unvaccinated against the virus and among the most high-profile unvaccinated athletes, had applied to the US government for a waiver to participate in the ATP Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami last month.
Djokovic, a 22-time Grand Slam winner, had expressed his desire to participate in the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, which commences on Monday, as well as the Miami Open.
Djokovic’s absence from the well-known tournament has sparked outrage, with many expressing that excluding one of the best tennis players of all time is “unacceptable.” Others have been left puzzled by the policy decision.
Comedian and talk show host Bill Maher strongly criticized his nation’s COVID rules, stating, “He’s unvaccinated but he’s had COVID twice, natural immunity. Again something we always used to understand was like better than the actual vaccine. Somehow that got to be reversed,” during a panel discussion.
“The head of the Miami tournament, I read a quote and he’s trying to get Djokovic in. He said: ‘There doesn’t appear to be any imminent danger,'” Maher continued. “Imminent danger? Of a man playing tennis? Of a man who’s had it twice? In a sport where you’re alone, in the middle of a stadium where you’re outside in a country where everyone’s already had it.”
Djokovic’s vaccination status caused him to miss both the Australian Open, where he was deported from the country, as well as the US Open last year.
With vaccination against Covid-19 no longer required to enter Australia, he successfully contested a three-year ban on applying for a visa and was able to compete in January’s Australian Open, eventually emerging as the victor by defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final.
