Although time has passed for Novak Djokovic to be granted US entry to play at Indian Wells, US politicians, most notably Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, are lobbying for regulations to be changed to allow the world No. 1 into the country in time for the Miami Open.
The US still requires international visitors to be vaccinated against Covid-19, and the Serbian confirmed he had applied for special permission to enter the country ahead of both tournaments, despite previously stating he was unvaccinated.
However, organizers of the Indian Wells tournament announced on Sunday that Djokovic had withdrawn from the tournament, which began main draw play on Wednesday.
DeSantis stated that he would “run a boat from the Bahamas” to transport Djokovic to the Miami Open tennis tournament later this month.
“I’d bring a boat from the Bahamas here for him. “I would do it 100 percent,” DeSantis said during a press conference in Tampa on Wednesday.