Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic returns to action next week in Dubai (Picture: Getty)
World No.1 Novak Djokovic has confirmed he has requested special permission to play the 2023 Sunshine Double despite being unvaccinated.
Foreign travellers must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus to enter the United States but Djokovic has consistently refused to take the vaccine, which means he could miss both Indian Wells and the Miami Open yet again.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion did not play either event last year due to his Covid-19 stance and has not appeared at Indian Wells since 2019.
Djokovic has been labelled an ‘anti-vax poster boy’ for his views and was also unable to feature at last year’s Australian Open and US Open for the same reason.
But the 35-year-old – fresh from winning the 2023 Australian Open last month – is now looking to return to the United States to play the Sunshine Double, with Indian Wells and the Miami Open starting on March 6 and March 20 respectively.
‘Everything is currently in the process,’ Djokovic said at his training ground in Belgrade on Wednesday.
‘I am really thankful to the Indian Wells and Miami tournament [officials] and community for their support publicly, and they would like me to be able to play in their tournaments.’
American tennis legend John McEnroe has said that it will be a ‘complete joke’ if Djokovic is not able to compete at the Sunshine Double this year.
‘I think it’s a complete joke that he’s not allowed to play – to make a long story short,’ McEnroe said.
‘It’s absurd they threw him out of Australia last year. I have had my vaccines. I respect that he’s chosen not to do it.
John McEnroe has urged the United States to let Novak Djokovic play in 2023 (Picture: Getty)
‘I would have done it but that’s a whole other issue. But at this point, or even last year, he played in 2021 [at the US Open] and then wasn’t allowed to come in 2022.
‘Someone explain that to me. and now he’s still not able to play? It’s absurd, in my opinion. We’ll see what happens.
‘It would be absurd if he couldn’t play Indian Wells or Miami or any other tournament in the U.S. especially the US Open.
‘This is a historic time in our sport, obviously with him and Rafa both at 22 [Grand Slam titles].’
Djokovic, who will next play at the Dubai Tennis Championships, reached another milestone this week as he levelled women’s legend Steffi Graf on 377 weeks at the top of the world rankings.
‘Obviously, Steffi Graf is one of the biggest legends of our sport, both men’s and women’s tennis, and someone that I truly admire and respect,’ Djokovic said.
‘So, of course, it’s very flattering that I am able to equal her record and obviously have a possibility to break it as well the next week.’
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‘Everything is currently in the process…’
