Novak Djokovic Poised To Miss 2 High-Profile American Tournaments Due To Vaccination Status

Novak Djokovic will be back at the Australian Open this month, but he won’t be allowed to play in two high-profile American tournaments this spring.

The United States has extended the COVID-19 vaccination requirement for non-U.S. citizen travelers through April 10, meaning the unvaccinated Djokovic will likely miss Indian Wells (March 6–19) and the Miami Open (March 19–April 2) for a second straight season. If Djokovic remains unvaccinated, he won’t be able to enter the country to participate in the tournaments.

Djokovic’s status for American tournaments beyond Miami remains unclear and will depend on if the U.S. lifts the vaccination requirement. The Western & Southern Open in Mason, Ohio in August is the biggest warm-up tournament for the U.S. Open, which begins Aug. 28.

In 2022, Djokovic was deported from Australia ahead of the tournament he has won nine times due to his vaccination status. He then had an automatic three-year visa ban in that country overturned in November.

He also was not allowed to play the U.S. Open due to being unable to fly into the U.S. as an unvaccinated foreigner.

He did win Wimbledon for his 21st Grand Slam title, and remains one behind Rafael Nadal’s men’s record 22.

Djokovic, now ranked No. 5 in the world, said in November he was looking forward to returning to Melbourne.

“[The] Australian Open has been my most successful Grand Slam,” he added. “I made some of the best memories there.

“Of course, I want to go back there, I want to play tennis, do what I do best, hopefully have a great Australian summer.”