Novak Djokovic is allowed to visit US in March, hopes Indian Wells director

Novak Djokovic has been absent from Indian Wells and the Miami Open since 2019 and is likely to miss the first two Masters tournaments of the year again. However, Indian Wells tournament director Tommy Haas wishes for the COVID-19 restrictions to end sooner than planned for the Serb to visit the US in March.

After being deported from Australia due to his unvaccinated status against the coronavirus last year, the ten-time Australian Open champion also missed all four Masters events in North America and the 2022 US Open.

The US government continues to seek proof of vaccination from those coming to the country. A few days ago, US President Joe Biden's administration declared that all the restrictions will be lifted on May 11, 2023. While this means that the 22-time Grand Slam winner will return to Flushing Meadows in August, he will have to sit out the tournaments to be played in March.

Former World No. 2 Haas recently remarked that he would like to see the Serb play in the two upcoming tournaments and hoped that the current emergency declarations would be relaxed sooner.

“Obviously the one problem being that he still cannot come to the US as they’re supposed to lift those mandates by mid-April. It would be nice to see if we could maybe lift those a little earlier and have him come to play Indian Wells and Miami,” said Hass.

“I think he wants to play, so we should give him the chance,” he added. “Hopefully, we can have him there. I mean, it would be a disgrace in my eyes if he wasn’t coming to these events, or not allowed to come.”

While the Indian Wells Masters will be played from March 8 to 19, the Miami Open is scheduled from March 22 to April 2.

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"If I can't go, I can't go" - Novak Djokovic on missing US tournaments over refusal to get vaccinated

Novak Djokovic at the 2023 Australian Open

During the 2023 Adelaide International 1 in January, Novak Djokovic responded to reports that US authorities were not yet ready to lift the restrictions regarding the coronavirus. He will miss the Indian Wells and the Miami Open in March but will be able to play in the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Masters, and the US Open since the emergency will end in May.

Accepting the situation, the 35-year-old stated that although he wanted to go to the US, there was nothing that he could do.

“I understand it. I saw it, but I don't think it's official yet. When it's official, then we can speak about it. 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. Well, I'm hoping, but if I can't go, I can't go. That's it,” Djokovic said.