The Serbian tennis player has been ruled out of competing in the United States after the CDC confirmed its regulations for international travellers will not change.
Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will not be competing in two upcoming tournaments in the United States due to coronavirus vaccine requirements.
The world No.2 men’s player was initially listed on the draw to play at BNB Paribas Open and Miami Open but knew his chances at participating were “unlikely” due to his vaccination status.
Djokovic took to social media to announce the news after his team received information the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention will not be changing its requirements.
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“While I was automatically listed in the @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @MiamiOpen draw I knew it would be unlikely I’d be able to travel,” he wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
“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.”
The CDC requires all international travellers into the US show proof they are fully vaccinated before boarding a flight.
President Joe Biden issued a proclamation on October 25 to suspend and limit entry of overseas holidaymakers who were not double dosed.
“It is the policy of my Administration to implement science-based public health measures, across all areas of the Federal Government, to prevent further introduction, transmission, and spread of COVID-19 into and throughout the United States, including from international air travellers,” a White House statement read.
“The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) within the Department of Health and Human Services has determined that the best way to slow the spread of COVID-19, including preventing infection by the Delta variant, is for individuals to get vaccinated.”
It’s a blow to Djokovic who would have hoped to win the two prestigious events to reclaim the top spot after Russia’s Daniil Medvedev was crowned as the new world No.1.
However, he will be able to contest the 2022 Roland-Garros in May after the French Government sensationally backflipped on its COVID-19 vaccine pass and mask rules.
There were concerns the unvaccinated would athlete miss out on defending his French Open title after politicians agreed to introduce a law last month that would require residents and international travellers aged over 16 to show proof of vaccination.
But France’s Prime Minister Jean Castex confirmed the law would be scrapped on March 14, along with the relaxation of face mask rules due to the improvement of the COVID-19 emergency in the European nation.
“After a fifth wave of COVID on an unprecedented scale, the health situation has been improving significantly for several weeks,” he said on French TV.
“In particular, the pressure on hospitals due to the pandemic has decreased significantly, allowing the lifting of emergency protocols and a gradual resumption of scheduled appointments and surgeries.
“Under these conditions, and while scientific models do not foresee any change in this favourable trajectory in the coming weeks, we can today announce new measures.”
Djokovic returned to the playing courts last month in Dubai but was bundled out of the quarter finals, while Medvedev made the final of the Mexican Open.
Missing out on the Australian Open in January also did not help the 34-year-old’s rankings.
He was sensationally deported days from competing at the Grand Slam after his legal team failed to overturn a ruling by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke, who cancelled his visa on the grounds he may “excite anti-vax sentiment”.
Djokovic revealed last month he was willing to miss out on further tournaments as he believed in pro-choice when it came to the vaccine.
“The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title or anything else,” he said in a BBC interview.
“I am trying to be in tune with my body as much as I possibly can.”
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