Djokovic to skip US tournaments over vaccination status

The world's number one men's tennis player Novak Djokovic said he will not compete in two upcoming United States (US) tennis tournaments because he is unvaccinated—the same reason he was kept out of the Australian Open. 

Novak Djokovic was included in the field for this week’s Indian Wells tennis tournament in Southern California, but said that he can’t enter the US and won’t participate. 

The tennis star had been waiting for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to possibly grant him an exception to travel to the United States despite being unvaccinated. 

In a tweet, Djokovic said that he is barred from entering the United States, and he would miss tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami.

While I was automatically listed in the @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @MiamiOpen draw I knew it would be unlikely I’d be able to travel. The CDC has confirmed that regulations won’t be changing so I won't be able to play in the US. Good luck to those playing in these great tournaments ?

— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 9, 2022

Under US immigration law, people who are not citizens and also not immigrants must show proof of full vaccination as well as a negative COVID-19 test to enter the country by air. 

Djokovic has expressed reluctance to be vaccinated against COVID-19—saying he was not convinced by the science. 

Additionally, it's likely that Novak's vaccination status will also prevent him from playing in the French Open in May and the French Monte Carlo Masters in April. 

He will also likely be barred from Spain's Mutua Madrid Open in May.

Earlier, Djokovic was deported from Australia in January over his vaccination status.

He was thus unable to defend his Australian Open title—which he has won a record nine times. 

In his absence, Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open and moved one ahead of his rival as the men’s player with the most Grand Slam wins.