World number one Novak Djokovic fails in bid to get exemption for Miami Open

18.03.2023 - 14:57 breakingnews.ie

Novak Djokovic will not be taking part in the Miami Open that starts next week, tournament director James Blake has said. World number one Djokovic is not vaccinated against Covid-19, and currently only international visitors who are are allowed to enter the United States.

Those restrictions are due to end in April, and the Serbian had hoped to gain special permission to play in the US this month at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open.

He had to withdraw from the former having not been able to secure that dispensation, and Blake has now confirmed Djokovic has also failed in his bid to feature at the Miami tournament.

Blake said in an interview with the Tennis Channel: “Obviously, we’re one of the premier tournaments in the world, we’d like to have the best players that can play. “We did all that we could.

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Novak Djokovic will not play at the Miami Open after failing to receive a waiver to enter the United States despite not being vaccinated for 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 effort of tournament officials. "We did all 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.