Novak Djokovic to miss Indian Wells over anti-vaccine stance and rekindles fight for ‘1’ with Alcaraz

The Covid-19 vaccine continues to cause problems for Novak Djokovic. This time, the world number one will not be able to compete in the tournament Indian wells and had to withdraw from it, after his attempt to enter the United States to play the competition in Southern California was rejected. The organizers of the trophy, which starts on Wednesday and ends on March 19, announced their withdrawal from the main draw late Sunday evening.

Republican Senator from Florida, Rick Scott, posted on Twitter that national security had rejected Djokovic’s request for a vaccine exemption, which would have allowed him to play back-to-back tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami between March 19 and April 2. The number one decline was to be expected as the United States ends its declaration of a COVID-19 emergency on May 19, which will allow foreign visitors to enter the country without having been vaccinated.

That way it will be fourth time in a row that Djokovic misses Indian Wells (adding 2020 due to the pandemic) and it is also difficult for him to participate in the Miami openfrom 19 March.

In the face of this defeat in extremis, the one who replaces Djokovic is the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili (118th). The Serbian comes from being eliminated and losing his 2023 unbeaten run in the semi-finals of the Dubai Championship last Friday against Medvedev.

Alcaraz, benefited

Despite this drop, Novak Djokovic completed his 379th week as world number one in the ATP rankings, but the Serbian rejoined the threat from the young Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (2nd)who can regain the throne conquered last year if he wins the title of Indian Wells.

It is worth mentioning that the Spanish player is on a good run after winning the Argentina Open after beating Cameron Norrie on February 19th. Later, he will reach the final in Rio de Janeiro, where Norrie will take revenge.

In the rest of the Top 10, in the ranking published this Monday, the Top 5 remains unchanged, with Tsitsipas, Ruud and Fritz behind the Djokovic-Alcaraz duo. The Russian Daniil Medvedev instead reaps the benefits of his three consecutive titles, on the last Saturday in Dubai, recovering the sixth place (+1) at the expense of his compatriot Andrey Rublev (7th).

In eighth position, the Danish Holger Rune gains two positions, thanks to his semifinal in Acapulco, while the Spanish legend Rafael Nadal (9th, -1) continues to recover from his left leg, he will not be in Indian Wells and Miami, and on the 20th March will drop out of the world top ten.