Novak Djokovic hasn't played in the United States since he lost in the 2021 U.S. Open final, and he'd like that to change.

Djokovic announced on Wednesday that he's asked U.S. authorities for special permission to enter the country to play Indian Wells and Miami over the next month. Since Djokovic is unvaccinated, he is currently not allowed to enter the U.S.

Djokovic, the No. 1 men's tennis player in the world, is unvaccinated against COVID-19, which has affected his ability to compete over the past 15-plus months. He was deported from Australia in Jan. 2022 just before the Australian Open because of his continued choice to remain unvaccinated. Djokovic's longtime nemesis, Rafael Nadal, won the 2022 Australian Open. And since the U.S. does not allow unvaccinated international visitors to enter the country, Djokovic was also unable to compete in the 2022 U.S. Open.