Despite his request for a waiver, the Serb was not allowed to enter American territory. He was therefore forced to forfeit the Indian Wells Masters 1000 on Sunday.
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His request for special dispensation will not have succeeded. World number 1 Novak Djokovic, prevented from entering the United States due to the fact that he is not vaccinated against Covid-19, was forced to forfeit the Indian Wells Masters 1000 (from 8 to March 19), the organizers of the Californian tournament announced on Sunday March 5. For the second consecutive year, the record holder for victories in the Masters 1000 (38 titles) will therefore miss the first of the season.
The Serb had requested a special dispensation from local authorities in recent weeks. In vain. The support received from the American Tennis Federation and the organizers of the US Open did nothing. The world number 1 will therefore not benefit from any preferential treatment. Because Washington does not allow entry into the country to unvaccinated international travelers. And the US Transportation Security Agency (TSA) recently indicated that this measure will not change until at least mid-April. Thus, the same situation could happen again in a few days for the Miami Masters 1000 (from March 22 to April 2).
His last match on American soil: the final of the US Open 2021
Djokovic, co-record holder of the number of Grand Slams won (22) with Rafael Nadal, since his coronation at the Australian Open at the start of the year, was waiting to know the response of the American authorities to his request for exemption. “If it is refused to me, I will withdraw from the tournament of course, before the draw” scheduled for Monday, he said, before conceding the first defeat of his season in the semi-finals in Dubai against Daniil Medvedev. What he just did.
The 35-year-old Serb is certainly the most famous athlete to refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19. For this reason, he had been expelled from Australia, shortly before the 2022 edition of the Major in Melbourne. And the following months, he was not allowed to come to the United States to defend his chances at Indian Wells and the US Open. The last time he played a game on American soil was at Flushing Meadows in 2021.
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