Djokovic’s COVID-19 vaccination status bars him from US tourneys until April 10

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Former world no. 1 male tennis player of the world Novak Djokovic will still be disallowed from joining lawn tennis tournaments in the United States until April 10, 2023.

According to the US Transportation Security Administration, a COVID-19 vaccine shot is still a requirement for air travelers flying from other countries wishing to enter the United States.

Despite the other countries’ relaxed COVID-19 rules, the US remained one of the strictest especially with air travelers.

Djokovic will then be expected to miss two major tournaments to be held in the US from March 2023 to April.

The ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells will be running from March 6-19 while the highly-anticipated Miami Open is set from March 20-April 2.

If Djokovic will be absent in these two major tournaments, his point boost will face another setback this 2023, the same thing he experienced last year when he only managed to secure the world no. 5 spot due to a lot of missed competitions.

“Look, if it is official, then it is. I mean, what can I do? Nothing, that’s it. You know my position. It is what it is,” Djokovic said.

The Serbian tennis star also missed the 2022 US Open due to his unvaccinated status and figured himself in a tug-of-war with the Australian government after breaking their rules of entering their borders.

Djokovic still managed to win a Grand Slam championship title despite a rough year and bagged the Wimbledon trophy after taking down Nick Kyrgios during the grand finals.