Novak Djokovic, the world’s #1 tennis player, has been refused entry into the United States for a second time because he is not vaccinated against the coronavirus.
As a result, he has been forced to withdraw from this week’s tournament at BNP Paribas Open, which starts Wednesday in Indian Wells, Ca.
The Serbian tennis star, whose only crime appears to be that he attempted to enter the United States legally, had applied for a waiver of the U.S. government’s strict vaccination policy for all legal foreign visitors but was denied that request even though Djokovic has already had Covid.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia in reacts against Hubert Hurkacz of Poland during their Men’s Quarter Final match on day day twelve of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium on March 02, 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
When news of Djokovic’s waiver denial hit Friday night, Florida Senator Rick Scott (R) demanded that the Biden administration intervene to grant the waiver. In a letter co-signed by fellow Florida Senator Marco Rubio (R), the pair used Biden’s own words to make a case for granting the waiver. Specifically, they mentioned Biden’s interview on 60 Minutes in which he declared the pandemic to be over. In addition, they cited a letter written by Dr. Anthony Fauci where the former NIH director wrote of the “limited efficacy of vaccines in protecting against respiratory pathogens, like the novel coronavirus.”
The United States maintains a ban on unvaccinated foreign travelers that is in place until May 11.
Djokovic’s unvaccinated status caused him to miss six major events in 2022 – two Grans Slams and four Masters level events.