Novak Djokovic withdraws from BNP Paribas Open after being denied entry to US over COVID-vaccine status

Novak Djokovic will not participate in this month’s BNP Paribas Open after the Biden administration denied him entry to the United States, saying he had not been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Djokovic, 35, requested a vaccine waiver, which would have allowed him to enter the US without vaccination, but it was rejected by the Department of Homeland Security.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion later withdrew from the joint ATP-WTA event, which begins on Wednesday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.

The event includes matches in both California and Miami, Florida. It will run till March 19.

Novak Djokovic asked for permission to enter US for tournaments due to vaccination status: ‘Not in my hands’

Djokovic, from Serbia, is currently ranked No. 1 in the world by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

In Djokovic’s latest professional appearance, he lost to 27-year-old Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the semifinals of the Dubai Tennis Championships.

Medvedev defeated fellow Russian Andrey Rublev (25) in the final.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev during Day Thirteen of Dubai Duty Free Tennis at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 03, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Amin Muhammad Jamali/Getty Images)

Florida lawmakers urge President Biden to grant Novak Djokovic exemption to play in US despite vaccination status

Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, both Republicans from Florida, expressed support for the Serbian tennis star and called on Congress to act to end President Biden’s “bogus vaccine mandate.”

“It has come to our attention that your administration has received a request from top-ranked male tennis player Novak Djokovic to waive the current vaccine mandate for international travelers entering the United States. We request that you grant the requested waiver. , which is necessary to allow Mr. Djokovic to compete in the Miami Open professional tennis tournament beginning March 19, 2023, in our home state of Florida,” the Republicans said in a joint letter.

Daniil Medvedev of Russia celebrates his victory at the end of the men’s singles quarterfinal match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on March 03, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Waleed Zein/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

In the letter, the Florida lawmakers also reminded Biden that he had previously said the epidemic was over.

“In September 2022, you bluntly announced to a national audience on 60 Minutes that ‘ [COVID-19] The epidemic is over,’ and, earlier this year, Dr. Anthony Fauci published a professional article that acknowledged the limited effectiveness of vaccines in protecting against respiratory pathogens, such as the novel coronavirus,” the senators added. “Given these changing circumstances, and your and your own Admissions by members of the administration, the current restrictive vaccine mandate that you maintain for international travelers entering the United States appears outdated and worthy of repeal.”

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Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts after losing to Daniil Medvedev during day thirteen of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 03, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Amin Muhammad Jamali/Getty Images)

They added: “Mr Djokovic is a world-class athlete in top physical condition who is not at high risk of serious complications from Covid-19. This seems illogical and wrong with your own administration’s views. He apologizes.” So that he can travel to America to compete in a professional event.”

The COVID-19 emergency declaration in the US is set to expire in May.

Djokovic missed last year’s US Open due to his Covid-vaccine status and has been public about his decision not to get vaccinated.

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Georgian tennis player Nikolas Basilashvili joined the Indian Wells draw after Djokovic’s withdrawal.

The Associated Press contributed to this report