INDIAN WELLS, Calif. – Novak Djokovic was entered into the BNP Paribas Open draw on Tuesday, although it is not known whether he will be able to enter the United States.
The second player in the world is not vaccinated against COVID-19. The United States requires visitors to be vaccinated to enter the country. Additionally, tournament officials have said that everyone entering the venue must be fully vaccinated in Indian Wells.
Djokovic has won the tournament five times. He received a first-round bye and would face either David Goffin or Jordan Thompson in the second round.
The Serb last played in Dubai last month, losing in the quarter-finals to Jiri Vesely. He was expelled from Australia in January after his visa was canceled on the eve of the first major tournament of the year. Djokovic wanted to argue that having had the virus, he was exempt from the rules stipulating full vaccination. He was held in an immigration center before being ordered to leave.
Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that Barbora Krejcikova withdrew from the tournament due to an elbow injury. The world No. 2 said she has been plagued by the injury since the Qatar tournament nearly two weeks ago. She mentioned that the pain worsened during the night, the day before the start of the tournament. The 26-year-old Czech is the defending champion of the French Open, which begins on May 22.
The tournament is already without world No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, who announced her retirement from competition last week. She wants to recover after triumphing in Melbourne in January.
France’s Alizé Cornet will replace Krejcikova in the main draw.
