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

Former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage joined 'Fox & Friends First' to discuss the ban and why he believes there is no medical basis for the decision. 

Novak Djokovic will not participate in the BNP Paribas Open this month after the Biden administration denied his entry to the United States, due to him being unvaccinated against COVID-19.

Djokovic, 35, requested a vaccine waiver, which would have allowed him to enter the U.S. unvaccinated, but it was rejected by the Homeland Security Department.

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

The event includes matches in both California and Miami, Florida. It runs through March 19.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC ASKS PERMISSION TO ENTER US FOR TOURNAMENTS DUE TO VACCINE STATUS: 'NOT IN MY HANDS’

Serbia's Novak Djokovic returns the ball to Daniil Medvedev during their semi-final match of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Friday, March 2, 2023.  (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

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

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

Medvedev went on to defeat fellow Russian Andrey Rublev, 25, in the finals.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia shakes hands with Daniil Medvedev after being defeated by him during day thirteen of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 03, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Amin Mohammad Jamali/Getty Images)

FLORIDA LAWMAKERS URGE PRESIDENT BIDEN TO GRANT NOVAK DJOKOVIC WAIVER TO