“With health and safety being the top priority, the tournament will require valid proof of full vaccination to enter the Indian Wells tennis complex,” organizers said Wednesday.

"Guidelines for players are governed by the protocols established by the WTA and ATP and by the restrictions established by the United States regarding the vaccination status of international travelers entering the country," it said.

The presence of Djokovic in this list responds in fact to the regulations of the ATP, which stipulates that the thirty best players in the world have the obligation to play the four Grand Slams and all the Masters 1000 except Monte Carlo.

But to be able to run for a sixth title in the Californian desert from March 7 to 20, Djokovic, also registered for the Dubai tournament at the end of February, will indeed have to present proof of complete vaccination.

He showed up, unvaccinated, in early January in Melbourne to win a 21st Grand Slam title, which would have been the absolute record ahead of Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

The expected "version" of Djokovic

He had finally been expelled from Australia, epilogue of a long saga around his vaccination status, after having failed to convince the justice of this country to accept his appeal against the cancellation of his visa by the government.

Spaniard Rafael Nadal winner of the Australian Open against Russian Daniil Medvedev, January 31, 2022 in Melbourne William WEST AFP / Archives

Last Thursday, "Nole" promised to tell his "version of the story" within "seven to ten days".

In the end, it was Nadal who made history in Melbourne, winning a Homeric final against Daniil Medvedev, after having to stop all competition for more than four months to treat a left foot injury and contracting the coronavirus at the end. from last year.

The Spaniard (N.5) and the Russian (N.2), both vaccinated, will be present in Indian Wells, along with the German Alexander Zverev (N.3) and the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.4 ) or the Briton Cameron Norrie defending champion (N.13).

Among the women, in addition to the world N.1 Barty, crowned with a first coronation at home in Australia, will be present, the Spaniard Paula Badosa (N.5), winner in Indian Wells last year, the Belarusian Aryna Sabalenka (N.2) or the Czech Barbora Krejcikova (N.3).

Notable absentees include Roger Federer, who is nursing a knee, and Serena Williams, a leg.

Naomi Osaka, plagued by bouts of mental anxiety and who made her comeback at the Australian Open, where she only passed two rounds, is not on the list provided by WTA 1000 organizers .

© 2022 AFP