Novak Djokovic part of Indian Wells draw but participation status still unclear
Indian Wells organisers said on Tuesday that Novak Djokovic had been placed in the tournament's draw but it was unclear if the Serbian would be permitted to enter the United States.
In Short
- Novak Djokovic has been placed in the tournament's draw
- Djokovic's participation status at the tournament still remains unclear
- The California tournament is expected to welcome a full house
World No.2 Novak Djokovic is part of the Indian Wells draw, the organisers confirmed, but his participation status at the Masters 1000 tournament still remains unclear.
"Novak Djokovic is on the tournament entry list, and therefore is placed in the draw today. We are currently in communication with his team; however, it has not been determined if he will participate in the event by getting CDC approval to enter the country," Indian Wells in a statement said.
The CDC website as of March 3 indicated non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants must show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 in order to travel by air to the United States.
Djokovic was unable to compete at the Australian Open after immigration authorities detained him on Jan. 6, prompting a legal rollercoaster ride over the country's COVID-19 entry rules that led to the cancellation of his visa later that month.
The California tournament often referred to as tennis' "fifth major," is expected to welcome a full house after it was canceled in 2020 and moved to October last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The women's first-round begins Wednesday while the men's starts Thursday.
With former world number one Roger Federer out of the tournament as he recovers from knee surgery and Djokovic previously presumed absent, Spaniard Rafa Nadal was widely favoured to pick up a men's record-extending 22nd Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open in January. Djokovic most recently competed in Dubai in February, where he lost in the quarter-final to Czech Jiri Vesely.