World number one tennis player Novak Djokovic has officially withdrawn from the Indian Wells tournament, officials said, citing the refusal of his request to enter the United States with a special permit for not having a COVID-19 vaccination.
The Serbian, one of the most famous athletes not vaccinated against the Corona virus, requested special permission from the US government last month to play the Masters competitions in Indian Wells and Miami.
“World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 edition and will be replaced by Nikoloz Basilashvili,” organizers said in a statement late on Sunday.
The United States currently bans unvaccinated foreigners from entering the country, and these restrictions are expected to be lifted when the Covid emergency ends on May 11.
Djokovic has not participated in the two consecutive tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, two of the most important ATP tournaments, since 2019.
Tommy Haas, director of the Indian Wells tournament alongside the US Tennis Association and the US Open, tried to help the 22-time Grand Slam champion enter the country.
Djokovic was a strong favorite to win his sixth title in Indian Wells when the tournament begins in the Southern California desert next Wednesday.
Djokovic, who missed the Australian Open last year because of his stance on vaccination and was not allowed to enter the United States and participate in the US Open competitions, said he would rather withdraw from major tournaments than get a Covid vaccine.
Djokovic equaled Rafael Nadal’s Grand Slam record when he won the Australian Open title last January.
