Field Level Media
19 Mar 2023, 00:40 GMT+10
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic won't take part in the Miami Open next week, as he was denied entry again to the United States over his lack of vaccination against COVID-19.
The U.S. doesn't end its COVID-19 emergency declaration until May 11, which is what currently prevents foreigners traveling via plane to enter the country without being vaccinated. Djokovic, from Serbia, previously pulled out of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Calif., for the same reason.
Miami tournament director James Blake confirmed the news to the Tennis Channel in an interview Friday.
"We did all that we could. We tried to talk to the government, but that's out of our hands. We tried, and he wasn't able to play," Blake said.
"Same result that he had in Indian Wells, where I know [fellow tournament director] Tommy Haas did as much as he could. We tried to get Novak Djokovic to be allowed to get an exemption, but that wasn't able to happen.
"We'd love to have him, and he's our greatest champion; he's won six times here. Unfortunately, that's way above my pay grade."
Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott both had appealed to President Joe Biden to grant an exemption for Djokovic, who is tied with Rafael Nadal for the most Grand Slam wins by a man with 22.
Djokovic, 35, last played in the United States at the U.S. Open in New York in September 2021. He lost to Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the final in straight sets.
Current vaccine rules took effect in October 2021.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Tennis Times news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Tennis Times.
More InformationThe New Orleans Saints signed free agent wide receiver Bryan Edwards on Monday. Terms were not released by the club. ...
The Cleveland Cavaliers are back in the NBA playoffs for the first time since 2018, while the situation for the ...
Villanova star forward Maddy Siegrist announced Monday that she is declaring for the WNBA draft. Siegrist, a first-team All-American, was ...
Washington State guard TJ Bamba declared for the 2023 NBA Draft on Monday but won't hire an agent, keeping his ...
Virginia center Kadin Shedrick has entered the transfer portal, according to ESPN. He joins Cavaliers freshman Isaac Traudt in the ...
Coveted transfer John Tonje announced Monday that he has committed to Missouri. The 6-foot-5 guard played the past four seasons ...
abuja, nigeria - Nigerian authorities say a rehabilitation program for former Boko Haram sect fighters is helping weaken the group's ...
A female shooter killed three children and three adults at a Christian grade school Monday in the southern U.S. state ...
Washington [US], March 27 (ANI): According to a new study, a history of participation in campus recreational activities might reduce ...
Balochistan [Pakistan], March 27 (ANI): Protests have begun once again in Gwadar against the arrest of Haq Do Tehreek (HDT) ...
Islamabad [Pakistan], March 27 (ANI): The Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Darband tehsil chapter has demanded that flour be made available to people ...
© Provided by Xinhua GUIYANG, March 27 (Xinhua) -- For more than 30 years, Huang Jinlong, a rural teacher in ...