‘Disgrace’ if Djokovic not allowed to enter US and compete, says Tommy Haas

Novak Djokovic might finish the 12 months because the world’s top-ranked participant however it will be a “disgrace” if his likelihood is affected by not with the ability to compete within the United States resulting from his unvaccinated standing, Indian Wells event director Tommy Haas mentioned.

Djokovic missed final 12 months’s Australian Open and was deported from the nation resulting from being unvaccinated in opposition to COVID. His three-year visa ban was overturned in November and he’s again on the Grand Slam trying to win a tenth crown and twenty second main.

The Serbian was, nonetheless, not capable of journey to New York for the 2022 U.S. Open with out proof of vaccination, the identical purpose that pressured him to skip ATP 1000 occasions at Indian Wells and Miami earlier within the 12 months.

U.S. authorities mentioned this month the requirement for international air travellers to be vaccinated in opposition to COVID could be in place till no less than April 10, which means Djokovic will miss out on Indian Wells and Miami once more.

Haas, additionally a former world quantity two participant, mentioned he hoped the foundations could be relaxed sooner to permit Djokovic to compete.

“If Djokovic stays healthy, I don’t see how he’s not going to be number one,” Haas instructed reporters at Melbourne Park on Monday.

“Obviously the one downside being that he nonetheless can not come to the U.S. If he doesn’t play Indian Wells and Miami in March (it will likely be robust), they’re speculated to elevate these mandates by mid-April.

“It could be good to see if we might perhaps elevate these a little bit earlier and have him come to play Indian Wells and Miami. I feel he needs to play, so we must always give him the possibility. Hopefully we will have him there.

“I mean, it would be a disgrace in my eyes if he wasn’t coming to these events, or not allowed to come.”

Haas added Indian Wells organisers would do “everything” to assist Djokovic’s probabilities of enjoying there.

Indian Wells runs from March 8-19 and the Miami Open from March 22-April 2. The 35-year-old has beforehand acknowledged he would miss Grand Slams reasonably than have a COVID vaccine.