Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from Indian Wells on the eve of the tournament draw, with the tennis World No.1’s bid to gain entry to the United States reportedly knocked back by government officials. Although the US will relax laws banning unvaccinated travellers from entering the country before the US Open later this year, Djokovic’s bid for a vaccine waiver has nevertheless been rejected.
Though the reigning Australian Open champion is a near certainty to return to the US in New York later this year, fans will still be kept waiting for his first appearance in the nation since 2020. That last visit ended in controversial circumstances for Djokovic, who was defaulted from the grand slam after striking a lineswoman in the neck with an errant ball hit in frustration between points.
Republican senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott wrote to US President Joe Biden to personally lobby for the World No.1 to be granted an exception, however officials did not relent. It comes after Djokovic returned to Australia earlier this year, having been deported 12 months prior after arriving without a valid vaccine exemption and subsequently having his visa cancelled.
