(LifeSiteNews) — Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked men’s tennis player in the world, has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells after the United States government presumably denied him special permission to enter the country as an unvaccinated foreigner.
Tournament organizers announced Djokovic’s withdrawal in a Sunday evening tweet, without specifying the cause or offering further comment. The tournament began Monday, March 6, and will run through Sunday, March 19. Djokovic will also not be able to compete at the Miami Open, which lasts from March 19 through April 2.
Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas previously said that it would be a “disgrace” to not have Djokovic in the draw.
Last month the brother of the Serbian tennis star told the media that Djokovic applied for special permission to enter the United States to play in the tournaments. Djokovic himself attested to a “big desire” to compete at Indian Wells and the Miami Open but acknowledged the matter was “not in my hands.”
The U.S. travel ban on foreigners who have not received the experimental COVID shot will remain in effect until at least May 11, the day designated by the Biden administration as the official end of the nation’s twin COVID emergencies. The White House has opposed congressional efforts to bring an immediate end to the travel ban on unvaccinated foreigners.
On Friday Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio wrote President Joe Biden a letter that called on him to approve Djokovic’s request to enter the United States.
“Mr. Djokovic is a world-class athlete in peak physical condition who is not at high-risk of severe complications from COVID-19. It seems both illogical and misaligned with the opinions of your own administration to not grant him the waiver he requests so that he may travel to the U.S. to compete in a professional event,” the letter reads.
In January Djokovic was allowed to compete at the Australian Open just one year after the Australian government deported him for not having an approved visa as an unvaccinated foreigner. He won this year’s Australian Open in dominating fashion, only dropping one set the entire tournament.