Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked tennis player, will miss the Miami Open due to being denied an exemption that would have allowed him to enter the U.S. despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19.

Tournament director James Blake said that they tried to obtain an exemption for Djokovic, but were unsuccessful.

The Miami Open is part of the ATP Tour and WTA Tour and is one of the most important and prestigious events in the tennis calendar. It features both men’s and women’s singles and doubles competitions.

As a Masters 1000 level tournament for men and a WTA 1000 level tournament for women. The winner of the men’s singles and women’s singles competition earns 1,000 ranking points.

The winner of the Miami Open Men’s tournament will receive $1,262,220 and the runner-up will receive $662,360. Players who make it to the semifinals will receive $352,635, while those who make it to the quarterfinals will get $184,465.

The U.S. currently prohibits unvaccinated foreigners from entering the country, a policy expected to be lifted when the government ends its COVID-19 emergency declarations on May 11.

Djokovic, who missed the ongoing Masters tournament in Indian Wells, California, due to his inability to secure the exemption, has stated that he would skip Grand Slams rather than receive a COVID-19 shot.

The Indian Wells tennis tournament is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Indian Wells, California, USA. It is one of the biggest and most prestigious tennis tournaments in the world, and is part of the ATP Tour and WTA Tour. The tournament is known for its scenic location and world-class facilities.

Djokovic plans to return to the tour at the Monte Carlo Masters clay-court event that begins on April 9th.