It’s official: Novak Djokovic will not be able to play in the Indian Wells Masters 1000. The Serbian, a five-time tournament champion, did not receive the exemption he needed to enter the United States because he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus and therefore will not be able to play in the first Masters 1000 of the season.
Djokovic I have requested a exemption to enter the country, as the United States has not yet relaxed its policy against the coronavirus. however, the country’s government decided not to relax its position against people who do not follow the regulations and therefore the number 1 in the world will not play in the tournament.
The Serbian has formalized his withdrawal from the tournament, where he will be replaced by the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili. Despite this defeat, given the situation, Djokovic’s presence is also very high in the air before the next tournament, the Miami Masters 1000 in two weeks.
Djokovic will miss Indian Wells for the third year in a row. Considering that the tournament was suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic, he has not played it since 2019, when he was surprised in the third round by Phillip Kohlschreiber. In 2021 he did not play an event located a few weeks after the US Open, in mid-October, due to the strange calendar created by the coronavirus. In 2022, he also did not go to the lands of California for the same reason as this year: there was no permission to enter the United States because he was not vaccinated.
His absence joins in Rafael Nadal, who is yet to return from the hip injury he suffered at the Australian Open. The Spaniard announced a few days ago his resignation from Indian Wells and Miami Masters 1000 to focus on the clay court season. Who remains signed up for the tournament despite the injury he sustained in Rio de Janeiro and prevented him from playing in Acapulco is Carlos Alcaraz. Because of the deadlines, he aims to play the event, even though they will be fair.
Source: La Verdad
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