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(LifeSiteNews) – Tennis superstar Novak Djokovic has announced that he will not be able to play in two upcoming U.S. tennis tournaments because of the Centers for Disease Control’s ban on travelers who have rejected COVID vaccines remains in place.  

“The CDC has confirmed that regulations won’t be changing so I won’t be able to play in the U.S.,” Djokovic tweeted on Tuesday. 

 

The world number one tennis player said he was “automatically listed” in the draw for this week’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Southern California, as well as for the upcoming Miami Open in Florida. 

But under current U.S. immigration law, non-U.S. citizens and non-immigrants who travel to the United States must show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as well as a negative COVID test to enter the country.  

As Djokovic remains unvaccinated for the coronavirus, the Serbian national will not be able to travel to the U.S. to compete in the two upcoming games. 

The BNP Paribas Open released a statement, saying that “Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open. As the next player in line to be seeded,  Grigor Dimitrov  will move into Djokovic’s space in the draw, and a Lucky Loser from qualifying will move into Dimitrov’s space in the draw once qualifying is complete.” 

The BNP Paribas and Miami opens are only the most recent tournaments that the tennis star has had to withdraw from because of his vaccination status.  

Djokovic entered the Australian Open as number one earlier this year, hoping to win what would have been a record-breaking twenty-first Grand Slam title. 

He arrived in Australia with a medical exemption but was deported after the Australian Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke decided that the tennis ace’s “ongoing presence in Australia” could have led “to an increase in anti-vaccination sentiment generated in the Australian community, potentially leading to an increase in civil unrest of the kind previously experienced in Australia with rallies and protests which may themselves be a source of community transmission.” 

Djokovic’s chance to compete in the French Open later this year was also in question after France’s Sports Ministry said that there would be no exemption from the vaccine passport legislation which had then just been passed by French Parliament. However, officials in France have now said that the legislation will be lifted on March 15. 

Djokovic has defended his choice of not getting vaccinated against COVID on numerous occasions.  

Last month, he appeared in a BBC interview saying that he has “always supported the freedom to choose what to put into your body.” 

The tennis star recognized that his decision to forego the jab, for whatever reason, would bring opposition and difficulties in his career but is not deterred.  

“I understand the consequences of my decision,” he said. 

Acknowledging that he will likely face exclusion from many major tournaments to the detriment of his career record, the Serbian athlete simply stated that that was “the price I am willing to pay.”  

Asked if he was willing to give up his chance to hold the most coveted records in tennis history and become the greatest player “statistically” to have played the game professionally, Djokovic said “Yes.” 

“The principles of decision-making on my own body are more important than any title,” he stated.    

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