Djokovic will not play the tournament in Indian Wells because he has not been vaccinated against the coronavirus

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic will not play in the tournament BNP Paribas Openpopularly known as Indian Wellsfor non-existence vaccinated against coronavirusit was announced this Sunday by the organization of the tournament.

Although those responsible for the first Masters 1000 of the season did not specify the reason for the withdrawal in their statement, Djokovic’s participation in the desert tournament in California was practically impossible due to non-compliance with the pandemic rules in the USA. .

The only option for the Serb was to get an exception from the American authorities, but in the end that assumption did not happen for this tournament, which will be played from March 6 to 19. number one in the worldDjokovic will thus skip Indian Wells for the fourth year in a row – including the 2020 edition, which was not played due to the pandemic – and it is very difficult to be at the Miami Open (from March 19 to April 2).

Djokovic’s absence opens the way for Alcaraz to return to number one, although the young Spaniard arrives between the cotton balls at these two tournaments in the USA where he defends numerous points (he was a semi-finalist in Indian Wells in 2022 and a champion in Miami). Apart from Djokovic, Rafa Nadal will not be present in Indian Wells and Miami due to injury.