Novak Djokovic is out of the Miami Open after a COVID-19 vaccine exemption was denied
Novak Djokovic has been officially denied a vaccine exemption for the Miami Open despite A.J pressure from some high-ranking Florida politicians.
Tournament director James Blake confirmed the result on Friday in an interview with Tennis Channel and expressed disappointment with the decision, which will prevent Djokovic from trying to win his seventh Miami Open title.
“Obviously we’re one of the premier leagues in the world,” Blake Tennis Channel, according to Reuters. “We would like to have the best players who can play. We have done everything we can. We have tried to talk to the government but it is out of our hands.”
Reuters reported that Djokovic’s denial stemmed from US protocol preventing unvaccinated travelers from entering the country, and his representative declined any further comment about the absence.
The 35-year-old has been surrounded by vaccine controversy for the past 15 months, and the Miami Open wouldn’t be the first time he’d represented Djokovic – currently not. 1st in the ATP World Rankings – Missed the tournament due to his vaccination condition.
Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open, an event that began on March 8 and runs through Sunday in Indian Wells, Calif. He also missed out on the 2022 Australian Open and the US Open.
But in the weeks leading up to this year’s Miami Open, where the men’s singles begins March 22, the state of Florida. Ron DeSantis publicly called President Joe Biden should “lift your chains and let him compete.”
“The only thing stopping Novak Djokovic from participating in the Miami Open is President Biden’s misleading and unscientific requirement for COVID-19 vaccinations for foreigners.” [sic] Travelers,” DeSantis tweeted on March 7, attaching photos to his two-page letter.
Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.) also expressed support for Djokovic getting a vaccine waiver, according to Reuters.
Djokovic, a native of Serbia, regained his number one. first place after Claim the Australian Open title in Januaryand it turned out later that Played through a three centimeter tear in the left hamstring.
In his last tournament, Djokovic fell to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the Dubai Championships, and suffered his first loss in 2023 after 15 consecutive victories.
