Novak Djokovic Denied Entry to the US for Miami Open Due to Unvaccinated Status
Novak Djokovic, the world’s top men’s tennis player, has been denied entry to the United States for the upcoming Miami Open due to his unvaccinated status against COVID-19. The tournament director, James Blake, confirmed on Friday that Djokovic was denied an exemption that would have allowed him to enter the country.
Djokovic Denied Entry in US
The United States currently requires international visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19, and Djokovic, a Serbian national, had applied for special permission to enter the country ahead of the Miami Open. However, the exemption was not granted, forcing Djokovic to miss the tournament.
Blake expressed disappointment over Djokovic’s absence, saying that the Miami Open is one of the premier tournaments in the world, and they would like to have the best players competing. He further stated that they did everything they could to allow Djokovic to participate in the tournament, including talking to the government, but the decision was out of their hands.
Missed Several Tournaments
Djokovic’s unvaccinated status has already caused him to miss several other tournaments, including the ongoing BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California. Earlier this month, he withdrew from the tournament due to being denied an exemption. In 2020, he missed Indian Wells, the Miami Open, and all the tournaments included in the US Open swing due to his vaccination status.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state’s two US senators have called on the Biden administration to allow Djokovic to enter the US and compete in the Miami Open. DeSantis even said he would “run a boat from the Bahamas” for Djokovic to compete in the tournament. The governor urged the US President to drop the vaccine requirement for international travelers, stating that the 22-time grand slam champion would be able to compete.
COVID-19 Emergency Declarations Ending Soon
It is worth noting that the U.S. currently bars unvaccinated foreigners from entry into the country, and the policy is expected to be lifted when the government ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations on May 11.
Novak Djokovic’s unvaccinated status has caused him to miss several tournaments, including the Miami Open. Despite efforts by tournament officials and Florida government officials, Djokovic was denied an exemption that would have allowed him to enter the United States. The decision was made due to the U.S. policy of requiring international visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
