Novak Djokovic has been included in the entry list for next month’s Indian Wells Open in spite of the tournament requiring all players to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
Last month, the world number one and 20-time grand slam winner was deported from Australia on the eve of the Australian Open.
This happened after his entry visa to the country was cancelled due to him not being vaccinated against coronavirus.
Djokovic believed he was still eligible to enter the country and compete after testing positive for coronavirus in December and making a full recovery.
The Serbian was subsequently sent home as he lost the legal battle that dominated much of the sports news agenda at the early weeks of 2022.
Djokovic was set to make his return to the court at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships later this month, with vaccination, not a requirement.
But it was at Indian Wells, where the five-time champion had been announced as a competitor, prompting curiosity about whether more legal battles awaited or if Djokovic had since been jabbed.
An Indian Wells statement read, with health and safety as the tournament’s top priority, the BNP Paribas Open would require valid proof of full vaccination to enter the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the tournament.
“For the second consecutive year, the BNP Paribas Open has partnered with CLEAR, the secure identity company, to facilitate the implementation of the venue’s mandatory vaccination policy ahead of the 2022 tournament.
“The guidelines for the players are governed by the protocols established by their respective governing bodies, the WTA and ATP, as well as any restrictions established by the United States of America in regard to the vaccination status of international travellers entering the country.’’
Images of Djokovic did not appear in any of the tournament’s build-up social media posts nor the website’s promotional announcement, while his entry-list inclusion was little, more than a footnote but, crucially, it does include him.
The statement continued: “A power-packed line-up of ATP top-10 players will join Rafael Nadal is looking to put together a breakthrough performance in Tennis Paradise.
“2021 U.S. Open champion and 2022 Australian Open finalist Daniil Medvedev (world no. 2), 2021 ATP Finals winner Alexander Zverev (world no. 3).
“2021 French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas (world no. 4) will each be in search of their maiden title in the desert.
“Reigning BNP Paribas Open champion Cameron Norrie (world no. 13) will look to replicate his extraordinary 2021 title run, in which he won his first Masters 1000 crown.
“World no. 1 and five-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic is also on the tournament entry list.’’
dpa/NAN
