Staff Reporter.
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from Indian Wells and the Miami Open – the first two Masters Series events of the year – because of US coronavirus rules.
Regulations require any non-US citizen to have a Covid vaccination before entering the country.
Serb Djokovic, 34, confirmed last month that he had not been vaccinated.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner was included in the draw for both events, but has since posted on Twitter that he knew it was “unlikely” he could travel.
While I was automatically listed in the @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @MiamiOpen draw I knew it would be unlikely I’d be able to travel. The CDC has confirmed that regulations won’t be changing so I won’t be able to play in the US. Good luck to those playing in these great tournaments ?
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 9, 2022
He is likely to make his return to the tour at the Monte Carlo Masters in April.
The Indian Wells draw will be less balanced following the late withdrawal of Djokovic, who was seeded second.
As the next player in line to be seeded outside the tournament’s top 32, last year’s semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov will move into Djokovic’s space in the draw. A lucky loser from qualifying will fill the Bulgarian’s spot in due course.
Djokovic missed the Australian Open in January, being deported from the conunrty after its government cancelled his visa in a row over his vaccine status.
In an exclusive interview with the BBC last month, he said that he is prepared to miss other big events in future.
“The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else,” he said.
“I’m trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can.”
By missing the Australian Open, Djokovic was overtaken in the list of overall major titles by eventual winner Rafael Nadal, who secured a record 21st Grand Slam.
Djokovic’s first tournament in 2022 came in Dubai in February, where he was beaten by Czech Jiri Vesely in the quarter-finals.
The defeat meant he conceded his world number one ranking to Russian Daniil Medvedev, who claimed his first major title at the US Open in September and is the top seed at Indian Wells.