Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the draw for the Indian Wells event, organizers stated on Sunday in a sign that the sector primary’s software for a COVID-19 vaccine waiver to go into the United States would possibly have failed.
The Serbian, who is without doubt one of the maximum high-profile athletes unvaccinated towards the virus, implemented to the United States govt remaining 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“World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 BNP Paribas Open.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, Nikoloz Basilashvili moves into the field,” organizers stated in a remark overdue on Sunday.
The US these days bars unvaccinated foreigners from access into the rustic, a coverage this is anticipated to be lifted when the federal government ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations on May 11.
Djokovic has no longer competed on the back-to-back ATP Masters occasions in Indian Wells and Miami, two of the largest tournaments at the ATP calendar and referred to as the “Sunshine Double”, since 2019.
No one from Djokovic’s crew used to be in an instant to be had to remark at 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 event director Tommy Haas, the United States Tennis Association and the United States Open have been amongst the ones additionally hoping the 22-time Grand Slam champion could be allowed to go into.
He would had been a heavy favourite to win his 6th Indian Wells identify when the event kicks off within the Southern California barren region on Wednesday.
Djokovic, who neglected remaining yr’s Australian Open because of his vaccination standing and used to be no longer allowed into the United States for remaining yr’s US Open, has stated he would skip Grand Slams moderately than have a COVID shot.
He gained his record-tying twenty second primary championship on the Australian Open in January.
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