He has formally withdrawn from the draw for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, tournament officials said Sunday, an indication that the world No. 1’s application for a COVID-19 vaccine waiver to enter the U.S. might have failed.
U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Geoff Freeman issued the following statement on news of the withdrawal of tennis champion Novak Djokovic from participating in an upcoming U.S. tournament:
“America’s outdated vaccine policy for international visitors is an unforced error that is contributing to an $80 billion loss in foreign traveler spending.”
“Novak Djokovic is merely one of millions deterred from visiting the United States due to a well-intended but antiquated policy. It is well past time for the United States to join with its peers in Europe, Australia and elsewhere and remove pandemic vaccine requirements for our inbound travelers.”
Djokovic has held the top position for a record total 379 weeks, finishing as the year-end No. 1 an Open Era record seven times. He is unvaccinated against COVID-19 and applied to the U.S. government last month for special permission to play at the ATP Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami.
Play in the combined ATP-WTA event begins Wednesday at Indian Wells Tennis Garden and runs through March 19. The draw is Monday. The U.S. is ending its COVID-19 emergency declaration on May 11, which will allow foreign air travelers to enter the country without being vaccinated.
Despite Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., and fellow Florida Senator Marco Rubio writing a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him to grant the request, Homeland Security has rejected Djokovic’s vaccine waiver request. It appears this was two months too early for America to make an exception.