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Djokovic made it to the White House to be able to play Indian Wells, but he didn’t make it

Djokovic made it to the White House to be able to play Indian Wells, but he didn’t make it

The decision not to vaccinate against the coronavirus is causing problems for the Serbian Novak Djokovic.

Finally, the number one in world tennis will not be able to play Indian Wells after the US authorities vetoed his entry into the country following the current protocol against covid, which prevents the entry of foreigners without a vaccine into the country.

Until the last moment, the Serb waited for a medical exemption that never came. However, he moved heaven and earth to be present at the Californian tournament. To such an extent that, according to The New York Times, he used his IMG representation agency to put pressure on the White House.

A few days before the start of the tournament, IMG contacted Republican Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio to write a letter to the President of the United States so that he could facilitate the entry of the Serb.

As this did not work, Djokovic moved his influences and reached the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of Homeland Security, positions that have among their powers to allow him to enter the United States.

Since he did not achieve his goal in this way either, the Serb contacted tennis player Billie Jean King, who has a direct relationship with President Joe Biden.

The American is considered one of the best tennis players in history, winner of 12 Grand Slams in singles, plus another 16 in doubles. In addition, she achieved another 11 in mixed doubles. Despite this, the Serb did not obtain permission and she will have to watch the tournament on television.

This year Djokovic was able to go to the Australian Open to add his tenth title and win his 22nd Grand Slam, equaling Rafael Nadal.

However, with the first 1,000 Masters of the year the problems return, and the Serbian will not play Indian Wells or Miami for the same reason: he is still not vaccinated.

Nole tried to play by all means in Indian Wells, a tournament that he has won five times and has not played since 2019. There he did not go beyond the third round, falling in two sets against the German Kohlschreiber by a double 6-4.

Source: Ambito

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