The number one in world tennis, the Serbian Novak Djokovic, will not be able to play Indian Wells after the US authorities vetoed his entry into the country following the current protocol against the covid, which prevents the entry of foreigners without a vaccine into the country. Until the last minute, the tennis player was waiting for a medical exemption that never came. Although all he did was not wait. As revealed by The New York Times, the Serbian used his representation agency IMG to put pressure on the White House through different means.
Days before his resignation, IMG contacted Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, two Republican senators, so that they could write a letter to the US president so that he could facilitate the entry of the Serb, but, once again, it came to nothing for Djokovic.
Once the government exemption was denied, the tennis player used his influence by appealing, always according to The New York Times, to the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation or the Secretary of Homeland Security, positions that have among their powers to allow him to enter the United States.
This also had no effect, so Novak Djokovic's team contacted people directly related to Joe Biden, President of the United States, as is the case with tennis player Billie Jean King, although the effect was the same.
Along the way, the Serbian has found a lot of support, such as the director of the Miami tournament, James Blake: "We have highlighted the fact that it would be good for the economy and for the Miami community," James himself stressed. that of Andrea Gaudenzi, president of the ATP: "Novak Djokovic is one of the best champions our sport has seen. The USTA and the US Open are hopeful that Novak will be successful in his petition to enter the country. The decision is unfortunate not only for him, but also for our tournaments and fans. Especially given the relaxation of restrictions around the world and in the US itself," he said.
The last to stand was the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, who would have asked the president of the United States to give his approval to the tennis player's participation in the Master 1,000 Miami. "The only thing keeping Novak Djokovic from participating in the Miami tournament is President Biden's misguided and unscientific COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign travelers. Mr. President, lift your restrictions and let him compete," DeSantis wrote in Twitter, where he attached a letter stressing that Djokovic's ban "is unfair, unscientific and unacceptable."
