Novak Djokovic set to MISS Indian Wells and the Miami Open as US travel authorities extend proof of Covid vaccination for entry until April
- United States travel authorities have extended the requirement for non-citizens to be fully vaccinated against Covid to enter the country until April 10
- That means Novak Djokovic risks losing Indian Wells as well as the Miami Open
- Djokovic spoke about the fact that he chose not to get the vaccine
Just as Novak Djokovic hoped to put the vaccine controversy behind him, he was further banned from playing in the United States.
The 35-year-old Serb will miss the first two Masters events of the season in Indian Wells and Miami after the US government extended its ban on unvaccinated travelers.
It means Djokovic can’t win extra ranking points after being excluded from America for the entirety of last year because of his refusal to take a jab.
Novak Djokovic will need to be vaccinated against Covid to play in Indian Wells or in Miami
US travel authorities have extended the requirement for entry to include a Covid vaccination
Despite this, he could still regain the world No1 spot if he wins this month’s Australian Open, but Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz will likely have to beat him before the quarter-finals.
British No1 Cam Norrie looks to be an early form horse for the Australian Open after he defeated his second consecutive top-10 opponent at the United Cup in Sydney.
Norrie overcame American Taylor Fritz 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, but it wasn’t enough to stop the GB team exiting the quarter-finals with a 4-1 loss. Katie Swan, Harriet Dart and Dan Evans fell to US opponents.
Djokovic is a known opponent of getting the vaccine – which is set to affect him again
He’s in Australia preparing for the Open, an event he missed last year because of the vaccine row
‘It’s been an amazing week for me,’ said Norrie, who glossed over Fritz, Rafael Nadal and Alex de Minaur.
‘In previous years I haven’t started the season well. It’s great at setting the tone.’
Norrie plays next week in Auckland, where Emma Raducanu takes on Slovakia’s Viktoria Kuzmova on Thursday morning.
