Indian Wells Masters is scheduled to begin on March 6 in USA. The world number 1, the 22 times Grand Slam winner, ages 35 is not yet to another controversy of this career as he is not liable to enter the US territory for not being cleared on COVIC-19 vaccine.
The verdict was out yesterday, as team Djokovic as waiting for some special approval for Indian Wells. The US requires international visitors to be vaccinated and proof of vaccination must be submitted within the due date.
“World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the 2023 BNP Paribas Open. With his withdrawal, Nikoloz Basilashvili moves into the field,” organizers said in a statement late on Sunday.
He also did not participate in the Indian Wells and Miami Open last year due to the same vaccine issues.
He would have been a heavy favorite to win his sixth Indian Wells title when the tournament kicks off in the Southern California desert on Wednesday.