ジョコ、ＢＮＰパリバＯＰ欠場　ワクチン未接種で米入国できず

【ロサンゼルス（米国）ＡＦＰ＝時事】米インディアンウェルズで今週開幕するテニス、ＢＮＰパリバ・オープンの主催者は５日、男子世界ランキング１位のノバク・ジョコビッチ（セルビア）が欠場すると発表した。（写真はノバク・ジョコビッチ）
　米国は現在も外国人入国者に新型コロナウイルスワクチンの接種を義務付けており、ワクチン未接種のジョコビッチは米当局に入国の特別許可を申請していたが、認められなかった。
　ＢＮＰパリバ・オープンの後にはフロリダ州でマイアミ・オープンも開催されるが、米当局が方針を変更しない限り同様に欠場することになるとみられる。
　昨季はワクチン未接種のため全豪オープン開幕直前にオーストラリアから国外追放となると、その後のウィンブルドン選手権には出場して優勝を果たしたが、全米オープンは入国制限のため出られなかった。
　ジョコビッチは今年１月の全豪オープンで四大大会（グランドスラム）歴代最多タイの２２勝目を挙げると、前週のドバイ・テニス選手権準決勝でダニール・メドベージェフに敗れるまで２０連勝していた。
　ＢＮＰパリバ・オープンでは、ジョコビッチの代わりにニコラス・バシラシビリ（ジョージア）が本戦入りする。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/03/06-15:19）

World number one Novak Djokovic has withdrawn from next week's ATP/WTA Indian Wells Masters event, organisers confirmed on Sunday with the Serb barred from entering the country.
Djokovic is unable to enter the United States because he is unvaccinated against Covid-19, but he had petitioned US authorities for special permission to enter.
The Indian Wells ATP 1000 event begins next week in the California desert and is followed by the prestigious tournament in Miami which Djokovic is now expected to miss unless US authorities have a change of heart.
The United States still doesn't allow unvaccinated international travellers to enter the country, with the Transportation Security Administration recently indicating the policy would not change until at least mid-April.
Djokovic's vaccination status saw him deported from Australia shortly before the 2022 Australian Open.
After winning Wimbledon he also missed the US Open last year because of the travel restriction.
He returned to Australia in January, winning the 2023 Australian Open for a record-equalling 22nd Grand Slam singles title.
He took his match win streak to 20 in Dubai last week before falling on Friday to Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.
Djokovic will be replaced in the field by Nikoloz Basilashvili, a brief statement said.
On Friday, both the US Tennis Association and US Open organisers voiced support for Djokovic's request to be allowed to enter the United States.
Novak Djokovic is one the greatest champions our sport has ever seen, the US Open wrote on its official Twitter feed.
The USTA and US Open are hopeful that Novak is successful in his petition to enter the country, and that the fans will be able to see him back in action at Indian Wells and Miami.