The tournament said Novak Djokovic will miss the Miami Open for a coronavirus vaccination

Tennis champion Novak Djokovic is set to miss his second US Tennis Championships this year, after he was denied entry to the country due to not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Djokovic, 35, will miss the Miami Open, which starts March 22, tournament director James Blake says. Certain to the Tennis Channel on Friday. Djokovic had won Miami Open six times – three times in a row. The last win came in 2016.

Blake said tournament organizers have spoken with federal officials and tried their best to get an exception to the US policy restrict International travelers who are not protected from entering the United States

“Obviously we are one of the premier leagues in the world, we like to have the best players that can play,” Blake told Tennis Channel. “We did everything we could. We tried to talk to the government, but it’s out of our hands.”

Some, like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, are calling on President Biden to drop the vaccination requirement and allow the Serbian athlete to compete in US championships again.

In a press conference earlier this month, DeSantis joked that he would run a boat from the Bahamas to Miami to bring Djokovic to the tournament.

“He poses no danger to the United States, he poses no danger to the State of Florida, he poses no danger to Miami,” the governor said at the time.

Novak Djokovic vs his opponent in the Dubai Championships
Novak Djokovic faces Daniil Medvedev in the men’s singles semi-final match during day 13 of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships at Dubai Duty Free Stadium on March 3, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Amin Muhammad Jamali/Getty Images


A spokesperson from the US Tennis Association told News agency Saturday that they are “very optimistic” Djokovic will be able to play in the US Open, which begins on August 28.

“Policies regarding entry into the United States are determined by the White House. We very much hope that the policy preventing Novak Djokovic from entering the United States will be rescinded, or revoked, in the near future,” said Chris Widmeier. “There are no COVID-19 restrictions at the US Open for any other player, fan or attendee. Novak, one of our sport’s great heroes, would be welcome to compete in the 2023 US Open.”

Djokovic is currently tied with Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam titles of all time, with 22. In February, he broke the record for the most time spent by a professional tennis player at No. 1 in the ATP Categories After winning the men’s singles title at the Australian Open January Cannes championship stay away from in 2022 for not being vaccinated.



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