Pro IQRA News Updates.
Novak Djokovic will not play in the Miami Open after failing to get an exemption to enter the United States despite not having been vaccinated against Covid-19.
Tournament director James Blake told The Tennis Channel on Saturday that the world number one, a six-time Miami champion, was denied entry despite the best efforts of tournament officials.
“We did everything we could. We tried to talk to the government but it’s out of our hands,” Blake said ahead of the start of the tournament next week.
“We tried and he couldn’t play, the same result he had in Indian Wells.”
Djokovic did not earn a spot in the ongoing Masters 1000 event in the California desert.
“We’d love to have him and he’s our biggest champion, six times here, so obviously we’d love to have him here but unfortunately it’s way above my pay grade,” Blake said.
Djokovic has missed other events due to being unvaccinated against Covid, but was allowed to compete in this year’s Australian Open and won his 10th crown in Melbourne for his 22nd career Grand Slam title – level with Spain’s Rafael Nadal for all-time record for men. …
“We’ve exhausted every option that we know of that we can handle,” Blake said. “Hopefully Novak will be back next year.”
US authorities are expected to ease vaccination requirements in May, which would allow Djokovic to play in the US Open.
“Hopefully, he’ll probably be back in all the later events in the United States, Cincinnati and the US Open,” Blake said.
Djokovic has not played in Miami since his fourth-round exit in 2019.
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