The suspense ended on Wednesday evening.
On his social networks, Novak Djokovic himself announced that he had to skip the tour of the circuits in the United States and that he would therefore not participate in the Indian Wells tournaments (from 10 to 20 March) from Miami (March 23-April 3) due to US Covid regulations.
The United States requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated to enter their territory, but the Serb, as we know since the politico-sports imbroglio in Australia, is not vaccinated.
The authorities “have confirmed that these rules are not going to change, so I will not be able to play in the United States.
Good luck to those who are going to play these beautiful tournaments,” the player said on Twitter.
While I was automatically listed in the @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @MiamiOpen draw I knew it would be unlikely I'd be able to travel.
The CDC has confirmed that regulations won't be changing so I won't be able to play in the US.
Good luck to those playing in these great tournaments 👊
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 9, 2022
Djokovic's participation had long been in doubt, but the 34-year-old Serb was still on the entry list for the Masters 1000 in Indian Wells, California.
Tuesday evening, his name still appeared among the players present in the bottom of the main draw as seeded number 2.
A blow for the organizers and the former world number 1 who won five times in Indian Wells.
But he does not benefit from privileges, just like the spectators who must also present proof of complete vaccination to attend the matches.
Expelled from Australia in January after several days of legal battle, for failing to meet the requirements of the authorities of this country in terms of vaccination against Covid, Djoko had not been able to defend his title and assisted, powerless and since the Serbia, to the coronation of Rafael Nadal who doubled the number of Grand Slam titles won (21 against 20 for the Serbian as well as Roger Federer).
The Serb had made his return to competition at the end of February in Dubai, where vaccination is not required, but he was beaten in the quarter-finals by the Czech Jiri Vesely.
A few days later, he lost his world No.1 spot to Daniil Medvedev.