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Los Angeles (AFP) – Serbian Novak Djokovic, World No.1, is among the players involved in the Indian Wells Masters 1000, alongside the winners of the last Australian Open Rafael Nadal and Ashleigh Barty, his participation is however only possible if he is vaccinated against Covid-19.
“Health and safety being the top priority, the tournament will require valid proof of full vaccination to enter the Indian Wells tennis complex,” organizers said Wednesday.
“The guidelines for players are governed by the protocols established by the WTA and ATP and according to the restrictions established by the United States with regard to the vaccination status of international travelers entering the country,” it said.
The presence of Djokovic in this list in fact meets the ATP regulations, which stipulate that the top thirty players in the world have the obligation to compete in all four Grand Slams and all Masters 1000 except Monte Carlo.
But to be able to compete for a sixth title in the Californian desert from March 7 to 20, Djokovic, also registered for the Dubai tournament at the end of February, will indeed have to present proof of full vaccination.
He had turned up, unvaccinated, in Melbourne at the beginning of January to collect a 21st Grand Slam title, which would have been the absolute record ahead of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Djokovic’s “version” expected
He had finally been deported from Australia, the epilogue of a long saga around his vaccination status, after failing to convince the court of that country to accept his appeal against the cancellation of his visa by the government.
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Last Thursday, “Nole” promised to tell its “side of the story” within “seven to ten days”.
Finally, it was Nadal who made history in Melbourne, winning a homeric final against Daniil Medvedev, after having to stop competing for more than four months to treat an injury to his left foot and contracting the coronavirus late last year.
The Spaniard (No.5) and the Russian (No.2), both vaccinated, will be present at Indian Wells, as will the German Alexander Zverev (No.3) and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (No.4) or the British title holder Cameron Norrie (No.13).
Among the women, in addition to World No.1 Barty, who won her first title at home in Australia, will be present, the Spaniard Paula Badosa (No.5), winner at Indian Wells last year, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (No.2) or the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (No.3).
Notable absentees include Roger Federer, who is nursing a knee, and Serena Williams, a leg. Naomi Osaka, plagued by bouts of mental anxiety and who had made her comeback at the Australian Open, where she spent only two rounds, is not in the list provided by the organizers of the WTA 1000.
© 2022 AFP
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