Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic can’t journey to U.S., out of Miami Open

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Novak Djokovic withdrew from Miami Open once more as a result of he nonetheless can’t journey to the United States as a international citizen who isn’t vaccinated towards COVID-19.

Djokovic is out of the sector for the occasion that begins subsequent week, a match spokesman stated Saturday. The 35-year-old from Serbia gained that occasion six instances, most lately in 2016.

Djokovic is No. 1 within the ATP rankings and is tied with Rafael Nadal – who’s injured and likewise gained’t be in Miami – at 22 Grand Slam titles, the document for many gained by a person. In 2023, Djokovic is 15-1 with two titles, together with on the Australian Open in January.

But he’ll now have missed the primary two Masters 1000 occasions of the season. He pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, which ends this weekend, as a result of he couldn’t get into the U.S. with out having acquired any photographs for the sickness attributable to the coronavirus.

In 2022, Djokovic additionally missed the journeys to Indian Wells, Miami and the U.S. Open.

Back in in April 2020, because the pandemic raged, Djokovic stated he was against needing to be vaccinated to journey. He later stated he wouldn’t get inoculated even when it meant lacking tournaments.

In January 2022, he tried to get an exemption to compete on the Australian Open and traveled to Melbourne. But after his case went to court docket, his visa was revoked and Djokovic was deported from the nation.

Pandemic restrictions have been eased in Australia since, and Djokovic returned this 12 months with no downside and gained the season’s first main championship.

Meanwhile, Nadal has been sidelined since hurting his left hip flexor throughout a second-round loss at Melbourne Park. He is aiming to return to motion on the Monte Carlo Masters subsequent month.