Novak Djokovic déjà vu as he remains on Indian Wells entry list, Rafael Nadal also included

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Novak Djokovic press conference

Novak Djokovic has once again been included on the Indian Wells Open entry list even though he is not allowed to enter the United States due to his unvaccinated status.

It was a similar story last year and he left it until the last minute before withdrawing from the California event as well as the Miami Open after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed that foreign travellers who are not vaccinated against Covid-19 are not allowed to enter the US.

The status quo with regards to entry regulations remains in place after United States President Joe Biden confirmed earlier in February that the coronavirus emergency declarations will only be lifted on May 11.

With the Indian Wells Open men’s main draw starting on March 9 and the Miami Open getting underway on March 20, it is unclear how he will be able to enter to the US for the events, although politicians are still hopeful that the Covid-19 restrictions will be lifted before the May 11 date.

World No 1 Djokovic, fresh from winning the Australian Open to move to 22 Grand Slams, has also received the backing of Indian Wells Open Tournament Director Tommy Haas, who insisted they will do “everything” possible to help him to play.

And for now the name Novak Djokovic is still on the entry list.

Rafael Nadal is another player who features on the list despite fitness concerns as he is still recovering from the hip injury that he sustained during the Australian Open.

Initial reports stated that he would be out for up to eight weeks and he remains touch-and-go for the season-opening ATP Masters 1000 event in California, but could be fit for the Miami Open a fortnight later.

However, he may skip the Sunshine Double in order to be fully fit for the clay-court season.

Nick Kyrgios is also under an injury cloud, but features on the entry list with the Australian currently recovering from knee surgery. He was forced to miss the Australian Open, but his team remain hopeful that he will be fit for the Indian Wells event.

World No 2 Carlos Alcaraz is set return to action next week after recovering from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the season-opening Grand Slam and he is expected to play.

Defending champion Taylor Fritz, Australian Open runner-up Stefanos Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Holger Rune also feature.

2021 champion Cameron Norrie, Dan Evans, Jack Draper and Andy Murray will fly the British flag.

READ MORE: Novak Djokovic’s 2023 tennis schedule

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