Novak Djokovic, the top-ranked tennis player from Serbia, will not participate in the BNP Paribas Open, commonly referred to as Indian Wells. Tournament organizers announced this Sunday that there will be no event in the midst of the ongoing coronavirus situation due to the lack of a vaccine. The decision comes as the world continues to grapple with health measures and entry rules that affect international athletes coming to the United States.
While the organizers did not spell out a specific reason for Djokovic’s withdrawal, it is understood that his plans to compete in the California desert event were blocked by the country’s entry requirements related to the pandemic. Securing a special exemption from U.S. authorities proved unachievable in time for the tournament, which is scheduled to run from March 6 to 19.
Djokovic, who has held the world No. 1 ranking, will therefore skip Indian Wells for a fourth consecutive year. The absence also casts doubt on his presence at the Miami Open, which stretches from March 19 to April 2, a timeline that includes the 2020 edition which was canceled due to the pandemic.
Djokovic’s decision creates an opening for Carlos Alcaraz to reclaim the No. 1 spot, at least temporarily, as he enters these two high-profile U.S. events with a chance to gain substantial ranking points. Alcaraz has already shown strong form, having progressed deeply in major hard-court events in recent seasons and previously reaching the latter stages at Indian Wells and Miami.
With Djokovic out, there will be no Indian Wells and no Miami participation from Rafael Nadal due to an injury, which further reshapes expectations for the season’s early hard-court swing.