CNN
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The world’s best male tennis player, Novak Djokovic, will miss the Miami Open next week after being refused entry to the United States because he is not vaccinated against Covid-19, tournament director James Blake announced on Friday.
The United States still requires international visitors to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and the Serb, who previously confirmed he was still not vaccinated, had applied for special permission to enter the country ahead of the tournament.
“We tried to get Novak Djokovic allowed to get a bye, but that couldn’t happen,” Blake said in an interview with Tennis Channel.
“Obviously we are one of the best tournaments in the world, we would like to have the best players who can play. We have done everything we can. We have tried to talk to the government, but it is not up to us .
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said earlier this month that he would “run a boat from the Bahamas” for Djokovic to compete in the Miami Open tennis tournament.
DeSantis has called on US President Joe Biden to drop the vaccine requirement for international travelers so the 22-time Grand Slam champion can compete.
Djokovic, 35, has missed several other tournaments due to his vaccination status. Earlier this month, Djokovic pulled out of the ongoing BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California due to the exemption being denied. Last year he missed Indian Wells, the Miami Open and every tournament included in the US Open swing.
The Miami Open main draw begins on March 22 and the tournament ends on April 2.
