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FILE PHOTO: Novak Djokovic of Serbia during his semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev of Russia. REUTERS/Amr Alfiky
LOS ANGELES-Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the draw for the Indian Wells tournament, organizers said on Sunday in an indication that the world number one’s application for a COVID-19 vaccine waiver to enter the US may fail.
The Serbian, who is one of the top athletes not vaccinated against the virus, applied to the US government last month for special permission to play in the ATP Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami.
“No. 1 world Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open 2023. With his withdrawal, Nikoloz Basilashvili moved to the field,” the organizers said in a statement late on Sunday.
The US currently bans unvaccinated foreigners from entering the country, a policy that is expected to be lifted when the government ends its declaration of a COVID-19 emergency on May 11.
Djokovic has never played in back-to-back ATP Masters events in Indian Wells and Miami, the two 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 resignation.
Late Friday, Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden asking him to grant the waiver request.
Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas, the United States Tennis Association and the US Open are among those who also expect the 22-time Grand Slam champion to be allowed to enter.
She is undoubtedly the heavy favorite to win her 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 to enter the US for last year’s US Open, said he would rather skip the Grand Slams than take on COVID.
He won a record 22nd major championship at the Australian Open in January.
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