The United States has not reopened its door to Novak Djokovic. The Serb had tried to obtain a waiver to play the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami but ultimately failed to obtain it. The world number 1 had waited until the last moment before the draw to withdraw from the Californian tournament and this time made his decision known a little earlier.
Unvaccinated foreigners will only be allowed to return to Uncle Sam’s country on May 11 and Djokovic has paid the price. The 35-year-old hasn’t played in Florida since 2019.
Djokovic could still remain world number 1
On the sporting level, he could still keep the world number one spot at the end of the first American tour of the year. If Carlos Alcaraz were to win Indian Wells, he would become world number 1 again next Monday but will then have to defend the points from his victory in Miami last year.
Djokovic should therefore be back during the clay season and in particular in Monte-Carlo, a tournament in which he is already registered.
Alcaraz will therefore be the number 1 seed of the Florida tournament, the main draw matches of which will begin on Wednesday, March 22.
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