No extra sausage

Tennis professional Novak Djokovic misses the next important tournament. Because the Serb, who has not been vaccinated against the corona virus, is still not allowed to enter the USA, the 35-year-old will also be absent from the Miami Open this week after the Masters tournament in Indian Wells. “We tried to get an exemption for Novak Djokovic, but that didn’t work,” said tournament director James Blake.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, among others, had campaigned for a special status for the 22-time Grand Slam winner. The US Tennis Association (USTA) and the organizers of the US Open had also pledged their support. Until May 11, the rule in the USA that foreigners need proof of vaccination if they arrive by plane is still in force.

Djokovic has already won the tournament in Miami six times. “We’re one of the most important tournaments in the world, we want to have the best players who can play. We did everything we could,” Blake said. Djokovic hasn’t played the “Sunshine Double” tournaments in California and Florida since 2019.

Yesterday when this issue went to press, Djokovic’s number 1 position was shaky. At midnight Carlos Alcaraz met Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells final. The Spaniard needed a win and the title at the $10.1m event to return to the throne. In the round of the last four, Alcaraz prevailed against the South Tyrolean Jannik Sinner 7: 6 (4), 6: 3, the Russian Medvedev retained the victory against the American Frances Tiafoe 7: 5, 7: 6 (4). upper hand. For the 27-year-old it was the 19th individual victory in a row on the ATP tour. An impressive series.

The women’s final was played by Aryna Sabalenka from Belarus and Elena Rybakina from Kazakhstan. But Iga Swiatek remains number one in the world. The Pole had absolutely no chance against Rybakina in the semifinals, she lost 2:6, 2:6 in 77 minutes. “It was difficult for me. Unfortunately, I’m feeling unwell at the moment, it took me an effort to play this match,” said Swiatek, who is struggling with rib problems.

Apparently there is a curse on defending champions in Indian Wells. The last person to date to repeat her coup from the previous year was Martina Navratilova in 1991. Swiatek had beaten Maria Sakkari (Gre), number 1 in the Upper Austria Ladies 2023, in the final in 2022.