Ron DeSantis is determined to play unvaccinated Novak Djokovic at the Miami Open – even if it means getting him on a boat.
Florida’s governor says he is still trying to circumvent ‘old’ vaccination mandates for foreign visitors after he wrote President Biden a letter urging him to let the tennis star into the United States.
The world No.1’s wish for a bye for next week’s tournament is fading, with Djokovic remaining firm on his decision not to get vaccinated as he didn’t consider himself a high risk.
He has already withdrawn from the Indian Wells Open in California after being denied entry to the United States.
“Hardly any other country in the world is doing this,” DeSantis said criticizing the continued ban on travelers who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID.
DeSantis admitted it was ultimately not his choice whether the world number one would be allowed to compete, and joked that he might need a boat from the Bahamas to South Florida.
Ron DeSantis is determined to play unvaccinated Novak Djokovic at the Miami Open – even if it means getting him on a boat
Novak Djokovic (pictured) is set to withdraw from the Indian Wells Open tournament next week
He also said Djokovic decided not to get vaccinated because he was only at “minor risk” and now has “natural immunity” because he was infected.
“It shows you how ridiculous some of this nonsense we’ve been through is,” he added.
Touting his COVID response in Florida, he said, “We stood against madness. We have made the state the refuge of sanity and the citadel of freedom. We didn’t let the state slide into some sort of Faucian dystopia.
DeSantis’ letter sent Monday, obtained by DailyMail.com, arrived the same day he delivered his state of the state address and is increasing his national activity as he nears a presidential announcement.
“Denial is unfair, unscientific and unacceptable,” DeSantis wrote in his letter. “I urge you to reconsider.”
With just five days left until the opening competition of the Masters this season, the 35-year-old has yet to receive a response from the US government regarding his candidacy.
He said: “Whatever the decision, if I am not cleared I will of course withdraw before the draw.
‘Let’s see what the answer is, then I’ll go from there. I will focus now on the tournament here in Dubai and then we will see what happens next.
The letter comes as nearly all COVID-19 restrictions in the United States have been lifted and the national emergency declaration is set to end in May.
“It’s time to put pandemic politics aside and give the American people what they want — let them play,” DeSantis insisted.
“The only thing stopping Mr. Djokovic from participating in this tournament is your administration’s continued enforcement of a flawed, unscientific, and outdated COVID-19 vaccination requirement for foreign guests wishing to visit our great country,” continues the Governor of Florida. tear apart Biden and the remnants of pandemic-era policies.
The letter is a further sign that Desantis is preparing to take on Biden should they face off in a general election battle in 2024.
The United States is the only country on the ATP Tour for which players must be vaccinated – although this rule was lifted on May 11 by President Joe Biden’s office – three months before the US Open Grand Slam.
DeSantis’ two-page letter to Biden, obtained by DailyMail.com before publication, shows the Florida governor asking the president to stop enforcing “a flawed, unscientific and outdated COVID-19 vaccination requirement for guests strangers”.
His absence gives teenager Carlos Alcaraz (above) the chance to top the world rankings
Djokovic missed the flagship US Open and several other competitions in the United States last year after the Center for Disease Control failed to relax its rules. Organizers in Indian Wells and Miami urged the government to let him into the country.
The Serb only dropped from the roster at Indian Wells last year after the draw, which was controversial given his decision meant the first substitute had to qualify rather than take his place , and denied another the opportunity to take the qualifying spot. .
But this year he insisted he would retire before the draw rather than wait until shortly before the first game.
His final decision could come on Saturday, after the Dubai Duty Free Championships conclude, with the Indian Wells draw on Sunday, a day before the event begins.
If Djokovic retires, Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz can rise to the top of the world rankings, but only if he wins the tournament.
The veteran, who is 15 games unbeaten, will face 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals in Dubai on Friday.
British star Emma Raducanu, 20, was given a wild card spot at the Miami Open on Thursday and will also appear in Indian Wells after several other players withdrew.
Chef and former Miami Open player James Blake has urged the US government to let Djokovic in
