Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the 22-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic could not participate in the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open in March of 2022.
According to directives, unauthorized foreign persons were not permitted to enter the United States or Canada.
“You are aware of my viewpoint; therefore, it is what it is. “I’d like to play, but if I can’t, I won’t,” he declared in early January.
Tournament Director Tommy Haas also indicated that organizers were doing all possible to assist Djokovic to play at the event.
“It would be good to see if we could maybe lift those a little early and have him come to play Indian Wells and Miami. I believe he wants to play; therefore we should give him the opportunity. “Hopefully, he’ll be able to make it,” he remarked.
“I mean, it would be a shame in my view if he wasn’t permitted to attend to these events.”
However, on Monday, US President Joe Biden announced that the current Covid-19 emergency designations had been prolonged and would be revoked only on May 11.
Although the limitations will not be lifted in time for the Sunshine Double, he will return to the United States later this year.
He missed the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open last year owing to travel restrictions, but he will participate at Flushing Meadows this year.
Djokovic made the most of his return to Australia, winning the Adelaide International 1 and then the Australian Open to move to 22 Grand Slams and equal Rafael Nadal for the most majors won by a male player. His three-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final at Melbourne Park also saw him reclaim the top spot in the ATP Rankings for the sixth time.