Novak Djokovic has 'no regrets' at missing Indian Wells and Miami Open, hopes to play at US Open

Updated 22/03/2023 at 16:51 GMT

Novak Djokovic has lost his place as the world No. 1 after Carlos Alcaraz emerged victorious at Indian Wells, a tournament he missed due to his vaccination status. However, the 35-year-old - who will also miss the Miami Open - insists he has "no regrets" and expressed his hope of playing at the US Open later this year. Djokovic is expected to return to action in April ahead of the French Open.

'I hope the situation will change' - Djokovic hopes to compete at US Open

Novak Djokovic insists he has “no regrets” at missing Indian Wells and the Miami Open in the United States due to his vaccination status.

Djokovic applied for special permission to enter the country as he has not taken the vaccination against Covid-19, but was denied an exemption.

Current US rules state international visitors need to show proof of vaccination to enter the country until at least April 10.

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On Monday, Djokovic lost his place as the world No. 1 and was replaced by Carlos Alcaraz, who won the Indian Wells title after beating Daniil Medvedev. The Miami Open takes place from March 21 to April 2.

“No, I have no regrets,” Djokovic told CNN.

“I’ve learned through life that regrets only hold you back and basically make you live in the past and I don’t want to do that.

“I also don’t want to live too much in the future. I want to be as much as in the present moment, but of course think about the future, creating a better future. So I congratulate Alcaraz. He absolutely deserves to come back to No. 1.

“It’s a pity that I wasn’t able to play in Indian Wells, Miami. I love those tournaments.

“I had plenty of success there, but at the same time, it is the conscious decision I made and I knew that there is always a possibility that I won’t go, and it is the current state or current situation that I hope will change for later this year for the US Open.

“That is the most important tournament for me on the American soil.”

Despite losing to Medvedev in the 2021 US Open final - as he came one match away from achieving the calendar Grand Slam - Djokovic has fond memories of playing in New York, and it’s an experience he wants to relive.

“I really want to be playing there, want to be there,” Djokovic said. “I actually had in 2021, when I lost in the finals against (Daniil) Medvedev, probably the one of best moments I ever had with the New York crowd and I’ve been fortunate to win that tournament three times and play many finals.

“Even though I lost that match, I received a lot of love and appreciation from people and I want to go back and I want to reconnect with the crowd there. So that’s something I’m looking forward to and hopefully it will happen.”

Djokovic is expected to return to action in early April as he steps up his preparation for the French Open where he will hope to win a 23rd Grand Slam to go one clear of Rafael Nadal in the men's all-time rankings.