World No. 1 Serb Novak Djokovic has been banned from entering the US due to lack of a coronavirus vaccine. This was announced on March 4 by Senator Rick Scott.
“We’ve been told that the Department of Homeland Security has just denied Djokovic’s request for a vaccine waiver, making him ineligible for the Indian Wells and Miami tournaments next week,” he tweeted.
Scott called on US President Joe Biden to intervene and make an exception for the tennis player.
In the United States until May 11, there is a ban on the entry of foreigners without a vaccine against COVID-19.
Tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami will be held from March 8 to April 2. They are the second most important in the tennis calendar after the Grand Slam tournaments. Djokovic has not competed since 2019. At the same time, after the start of the coronavirus pandemic, he played in other tournaments in the United States.
Earlier, in January 2022, Djokovic also flew to Australia to participate in tournaments. Then the athlete was detained at Melbourne airport due to the fact that he was unable to provide border guards with documents on medical exemption from vaccination against coronavirus, which at that time was mandatory for foreigners entering the country.
After the trial, the athlete’s visa was canceled, the Federal Court of Australia decided to deport Djokovic from the country.
