Will Djokovic be allowed to play

NOVAK Djokovic’s name has appeared in the draw for the first Masters Series event of the year in Indian Wells.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion said in a BBC interview last month that he had not received a Covid vaccination.

But that is obligatory for any non-US citizen wishing to enter the country.

Djokovic did not take his name off the entry list before Tuesday’s draw, and tournament organisers admit they have not yet been able to find out whether he has a viable route into the US.

Novak Djokovic

“Novak Djokovic is on the tournament entry list, and therefore is placed into the draw,” the BNP Paribas Open said in a statement.

“We are currently in communication with his team; however, it has not been determined if he will participate in the event by getting CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) approval to enter the country. We will provide updates in the future as we learn more.”

The BBC has also approached his management for information.

There are very few exceptions to US Covid entry requirements, and it seems unlikely Djokovic has recently had the vaccine.

He was deported from Australia in January after the government cancelled his visa in a row over his vaccine status, and Djokovic told Amol Rajan last month that he is prepared to miss other big events in future. – bbc.com