Tennis star Novak Djokovic will not attend another event in the United States because of his decision to remain unvaccinated for COVID-19. After this Djokovic will not be allowed to participate in Miami Open Failed to obtain vaccination exemptiontournament director James Blake told Tennis Channel.
Blake said that Miami Open officials talked to the United States government about giving Djokovic an exemption, but this did not happen. The United States does not allow unvaccinated persons born outside the US to enter the country under its current COVID-19 policy. That policy is expected to be taken up in May. The Miami Open will begin on March 22.
Blake made it clear that he wanted Djokovic to be able to participate in the tournament, telling Tennis Channel, “We want to have the best players that we can play.” Blake said that the final decision was “not in our hands.”
Djokovic was also denied an exemption to play in the 2023 Indian Wells Masters, which is being held in California.
The 35-year-old Djokovic is currently the No. 1 male tennis player in the world. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Djokovic has missed several events without vaccinations. Because of that decision, he has not played any tournaments in the United States for several years.
Other countries have allowed Djokovic to participate in competitions. He won the 2023 Australian Open in January. That win pushed Djokovic back to the No. 1 spot in the men's rankings.
