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Tennis star Novak Djokovic will miss the Miami Open after failing to get an exemption below coronavirus vaccine guidelines to enter the USA.
The world No. 1, who just isn’t vaccinated in opposition to the coronavirus, had hoped U.S. authorities would grant him an exemption so he may play at Indian Wells and the Miami Open. The Transportation Safety Administration requires proof of vaccination from air vacationers below a rule in place by means of no less than April 10.
However Miami Open event director James Blake mentioned that whereas that they had tried to safe entry for the 35-year-old Serbian star, “that wasn’t capable of occur.”
“We run one of many premier tournaments on this planet. We’d prefer to have one of the best gamers that may play … And we did all we may, tried to speak to the federal government, however that’s out of our fingers,” Blake informed Tennis Channel on Friday.
“We’d like to have him, and he’s our biggest champion. He’s gained six occasions right here … However sadly, that’s manner above my pay grade,” he added.
Novak Djokovic, after looking for vaccine exemption, withdraws from Indian Wells
Event officers in Indian Wells, Calif., additionally mentioned Djokovic had withdrawn earlier this month.
Politicians together with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) have not too long ago urged President Biden to exempt the top-ranked participant so he may compete within the Miami Open, set to happen March 19 to April 2 in Miami Gardens, Fla. Florida’s two Republican senators had additionally requested Biden to just accept the request for a vaccine waiver.
Nonetheless unvaccinated, Novak Djokovic seeks particular entry to United States
Officers on the U.S. Open, the nation’s Grand Slam occasion, had expressed help for Djokovic, tweeting that they had been “hopeful that Novak is profitable in his petition to enter the nation.”
The athlete’s unvaccinated standing amid coronavirus restrictions left him unable to play in final 12 months’s U.S. Open. He was deported from Australia in January final 12 months in a saga that divided his followers and detractors as well being officers globally inspired vaccination to struggle the unfold of the lethal virus. A compulsory vaccine requirement didn’t apply for entry to Britain, and Djokovic went on to efficiently defend his males’s singles title at Wimbledon final July.
In interviews final 12 months, Djokovic mentioned he was not a part of the anti-vaccine motion however that he supported the liberty to decide on.
Well being officers say people who find themselves vaccinated and boosted not solely have safety from severe sickness themselves but in addition assist shield the extra susceptible, together with the immunocompromised.
Des Bieler and Cindy Boren contributed to this report.