Florida Senator claims Djokovic banned from Indian Wells and Miami

Florida senator Rick Scott has claimed that world number one Novak Djokovic will not be allowed to compete at Indian Wells and Miami despite applying for an exemption.

🚨 BREAKING: We have been told that @DHSgov just denied @DjokerNole's vaccine waiver request, making him ineligible to compete in the US next week in CA & in the @MiamiOpen. @JoeBiden must fix this NOW, grant the waiver & allow him to compete here in the states. https://t.co/TSD10yM8u6

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) March 3, 2023

A few hours earlier, the USTA made a public appeal for Djokovic to play in the upcoming tournaments – the BNP Paribas Open starts on March 8 while the Miami Open is scheduled to kick off on March 21.

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Senator Rick Scott and Senator Marco Rubio have officially asked the US President Joe Biden to waive the vaccination requirement for Serbia’s top tennis player so that he can travel there to compete.

“Mr. Djokovic is a world-class athlete in peak physical condition who is not at high risk of severe complications from COVID-19, they wrote.

“It seems both illogical and misaligned with the opinions of your own administration to not grant him the waiver he requests so that he may travel to the U.S. to compete in a professional event.

“The lack of public health risk, along with the clear benefit of his participation in an event that will be a major driver for our local economies should make the decision before you simple and serve as a precedent for others in his position.”

Should Djokovic miss the events in America, then the Serb’s next tournament will be in Monte-Carlo in April.