“Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open. Grigor Dimitrov will move into Djokovic’s space in the draw and a ‘lucky loser’ of the classification will occupy Dimitrov’s in the draw once the classification of the previous phase is completed”. With this brief message in the official account of the Indian Wells Masters 1,000, another surreal situation was settled around Novak Djokovic who had started in the draw for the first Masters 1,000 of 2022 with the presence of the name of the former ATP number one.
“Djokovic is on the tournament participant list and is therefore included in the draw for the draw. We are currently in communication with his team; however, it has not been determined whether he will participate in the event by obtaining CDC approval ( Center for Disease Control) to enter the country. We will provide updates in the future as we learn more.” read the letter from the organizers that set off all the alarms and began hours of uncertainty and doubts about whether Djokovic could travel to the US and play a tournament that, due to the anti-COVID regulations of the North American country, would not make sense since you cannot enter without the corresponding vaccination certificate… that Nole does not have as he is not vaccinated.
Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from the BNP Paribas Open. As the next player in line to be seeded, Grigor Dimitrov will move into Djokovic’s space in the draw, and a Lucky Loser from qualifying will move into Dimitrov’s space in the draw once qualifying is complete.#IndianWells
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 9, 2022
Precisely, the Serbian player himself reacted quickly to the tweet confirming his non-attendance at the tournament. “Although I automatically appeared in the draw for Indian Wells and Miami I knew it would be unlikely that I would be able to travel. The CDC has confirmed that the regulations will not change so I will not be able to play in the United States. Good luck to all who play in these big tournaments,” Novak wrote.
Once the Serbian’s non-presence is made official, the Bulgarian Dimitrov is located on the opposite side of the table from Rafa Nadal, fourth favorite, who would again face the one, Daniil Medvedev (who yesterday claimed to be “waiting for the moment when he can recover the flag ”) in the semifinals. The Spaniard, champion at the ATP 250 in Melbourne, the Australian Open and Acapulco with a record of 15 wins and no losses, would face the American Sebastian Korda or a rival from the second round on Saturday or Sunday. previous. And on his way before crossing paths with the Russian tennis player, whom he has already beaten twice this year, the British Evans would be ranked in the third round, the Canadian Shapovalov in the round of 16 and the Norwegian Casper Ruud in the quarterfinals. The final, against Zverev.
While I was automatically listed in the @BNPPARIBASOPEN and @MiamiOpen draw I knew it would be unlikely I’d be able to travel. The CDC has confirmed that regulations won’t be changing so I won’t be able to play in the US. Good luck to those playing in these great tournaments ????
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 9, 2022
ARMADA.
As for the rest of the large Spanish representation in Indian Wells, a tournament in which 128 tennis players participate, Carlos Alcaraz will start his career in the second round against the American McDonald or the Hungarian Fucsovics, in the same frame room as Medvedev. Roberto Bautista, on the same side and also exempt from the first game, would meet the Frenchman Gastón or an opponent from the previous one. Pablo Carreño, in the Zverev sector, will make his debut for sure against a ‘qualifier’. from the previous round.
In the first round, Pedro Martínez will run into another classified; Pablo Andújar, with the Italian Fognini; Roberto Carballés, with the American Brooksby; and Alejandro Davidovich, with the Croatian Coric. Jaume Munar will face Vukic for a place in the final draw, while Feliciano López was unable to beat the American Eubanks and was eliminated.