Novak Djokovic will not be allowed to compete in the upcoming Indian Wells, Miami “Sunshine Double” tennis events due to not being allowed entry in the United States due to be unvaccinated against COVID-19. Djokovic applied to the U.S. government last month for special permission to play at the ATP Masters events at Indian Wells and Miami, but was denied. On Friday, March 3, U.S. Senator Rick Scott of Florida wrote on Twitter that Homeland Security had rejected Djokovic’s vaccine waiver request. Scott and fellow Florida Senator Marco Rubio wrote a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden urging him to grant the request. The U.S. is ending its COVID-19 emergency declaration on May 11, which will allow foreign air travelers to enter the country without being vaccinated.
In a media conference call to promote his trip for tourists to Tanzania with brother Patrick McEnroe, John McEnroe said the situation was “a complete joke.” Said McEnroe, “I think it’s a complete joke that he’s not allowed to play. Make a long story short, this has gone on… It’s absurd. They threw him out of Australia last year. I have had my vaccines, I respect that he’s chosen not to do it, I would’ve done it, but that’s a whole other issue. But at this point, or even last year, he played in 2021 and then wasn’t allowed to come in 2022. Someone explain that to me and now he’s still not permitted to play. I mean it’s absurd, in my opinion, but we’ll see what happens.”
Reporter Adam Zagoria from Forbes.com then asked McEnroe, “Just to clarify, you’re saying it would be absurd if he couldn’t play the US Open this year, right?” Answered McEnroe, “Yes. I’m saying absurd if he couldn’t play Indian Wells or Miami or any other tournament in the US and especially the US Open. This is historic time in our sport, obviously, him and Rafael both at 22. It’s pretty interesting if you ask me. So it would be a damn shame.”
To read the full transcript of the McEnroe brothers media conference call, click here: https://www.worldtennismagazine.com/archives/21743
To watch a video of the media conference call, click here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozt3rn4kf48
For more information on the Tanzania trip and how you can join the McEnroe brothers in Tanzania, click here: https://insiderexpeditions.com/luxury-bucket-list-safari-in-tanzania-with-tennis-legends/
