Again no Indian Wells and Miami for Djokovic? US extends vaccination requirements
Will Novak Djokovic have to do without the Masters tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami again in 2023? It seems so.
by Florian Goosmann
last edit: Jan 04, 2023, 03:03 pm
Because the USA continues to issue a full vaccination against the corona virus as an entry requirement for non-natives, the corresponding regulation has recently been extended until April 10, 2023.
Means: Unvaccinated entry into the USA is prohibited until at least then, which also affects the Masters tournament in Indian Wells (from March 6, 2023) and Miami (from March 19, 2013).
Djokovic had refused a vaccination against Corona until the very end.
If nothing changes, Djokovic would again miss the first two Masters tournaments of 2023. And with it valuable points for the world rankings, specifically 2,000 pieces.
Last year Djokovic had to give up a lot of points: In Australia, after long legal disputes on site, he had to leave before the start of the Australian Open , he missed all the US tournaments - in addition to Indian Wells and Miami also the summer hard court season including the US Open.
The fact that he was still in the top 5 in the world at the end of the year was because Djokovic played brilliantly for the rest of the year and for many is still the real number 1 in world tennis .
Djokovic this time at the Australian Open at the start
After all, a similar drama as last year will not take place in Australia this time: In "Down Under" the vaccination requirement for entry has been lifted. Djokovic is already back on site and this week in Adelaide at the start, where he has already successfully completed his first round .
And in just under two weeks: Djokovic will then take part in the Australian Open to celebrate his tenth major victory there - and his 22nd overall. With that he would draw level with Rafael Nadal in the Grand Slam race,