Serbian Novak Djokovic, noh 1 in the world, is one of the players involved in the Indian Wells Masters 1000, alongside the winners of the last Australian Open Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty, his participation being however only possible if he is vaccinated against COVID-19 .
“With health and safety being the top priority, the tournament will require valid proof of full vaccination to enter the Indian Wells tennis complex,” organizers said Wednesday.
“Guidelines for players are governed by the protocols established by the WTA and ATP and according to the restrictions established by the United States with regard to the vaccination status of international travelers entering the country”, it is specified.
The presence of Djokovic in this list responds in fact to the regulations of the ATP, which stipulates that the thirty best players in the world have the obligation to play the four Grand Slams and all the Masters 1000 except Monte Carlo.
But to be able to run for a sixth title in the Californian desert from March 7 to 20, Djokovic, also registered for the Dubai tournament at the end of February, will indeed have to present proof of complete vaccination.
He had presented himself, unvaccinated, at the beginning of January in Melbourne to glean a 21and Grand Slam title, which would have been the absolute record ahead of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
The expected “version” of Djokovic
He had finally been expelled from Australia, epilogue of a long saga around his vaccination status, after having failed to convince the justice of this country to accept his appeal against the cancellation of his visa by the government.
Last Thursday, “Nole” had promised to tell within “seven to ten days” his “version of the story”.
In the end, it was Nadal who made history in Melbourne, winning a Homeric final against Daniil Medvedev, after having to stop all competition for more than four months to treat a left foot injury and contracting the coronavirus at the end. from last year.
The Spaniard (noh5) and Russian (noh2), both vaccinated, will be present in Indian Wells, along with the German Alexander Zverev (noh3) and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (noh4) or the Briton Cameron Norrie defending champion (noh13).
In women, besides the noh1 Barty, crowned with a first coronation at home in Australia, will be present, the Spaniard Paula Badosa (noh5), winner in Indian Wells last year, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (noh2) or the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (noh3).
Notable absentees include Roger Federer, who is nursing a knee, and Serena Williams, a leg. Naomi Osaka, plagued by bouts of mental anxiety and who made her comeback at the Australian Open, where she only passed two rounds, is not on the list provided by WTA 1000 organizers .