Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the draw for the Indian Wells match in a sign that the arena No 1’s utility for a Covid-19 vaccine waiver to go into america may have failed.
The Serbian, who is among the maximum high-profile athletes unvaccinated towards the virus, carried out to america executive closing month for particular permission to play at ATP Masters occasions at Indian Wells and Miami.
“World No 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 BNP Paribas Open. With his withdrawal, strikes into the sector,” the organizers said in a statement.
The US currently bars unvaccinated foreigners from entry into the country, a policy that is expected to be lifted when the government ends its Covid-19 emergency declarations on 11 May.
Djokovic has not competed at the back-to-back ATP Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami, two of the biggest tournaments on the ATP calendar and known as the “Sunshine Double”, since 2019.
No one from Djokovic’s team was immediately available to comment on the withdrawal.
Last Friday, Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden urging him to grant the waiver request.
Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas, the United States Tennis Association and the US Open were among those also hoping the 22-time grand slam champion would be allowed to enter.
He would have been a heavy favorite to win his sixth Indian Wells title when the tournament kicks off in the Southern California desert on Wednesday.
Djokovic, who missed last year’s Australian Open due to his vaccination status and was not allowed into the US for last year’s US Open, has said he would skip grand slams rather have a Covid shot.
He received his record-tying twenty second primary championship on the Australian Open in January.