AfriPulse
March 06, (THEWILL) – Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the Indian Wells tournament due to his vaccination status, which will come as a disappointment to his fans.
As the world number one, Djokovic is unable to attend the event in the United States, as the country currently requires international visitors to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Despite his efforts to secure special permission, Djokovic has been unable to play in the tournament.
Indian Wells is one of the most prestigious events in the men’s and women’s tennis calendars and is often referred to as the ‘fifth Grand Slam’. On Monday, the tournament announced that Nikoloz Basilashvili would be replacing Djokovic.
Djokovic had a very impressive 15-1 record at the start of 2023 and was looking forward to a positive decision on his status. However, he has taken the decision to withdraw ahead of the draw being made on Tuesday, rather than wait until afterwards. While Djokovic is unable to travel to the US, there are no restrictions to prevent him from playing throughout the European clay-court season or the grass-court season.
Djokovic’s next big event is the Monte-Carlo Masters, which starts on April 9, followed by Roland-Garros, where he will take on Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz, among other big-name contenders. If the US regulations requiring international travellers to be vaccinated do indeed end on May 11, Djokovic could then return to play at the US Open in the summer, as well as the Canadian Open and the Western & Southern Open.
Source: TheWillNigeria | Read More
