Novak Djokovic said he will not be able to participate in tennis tournaments in Indian Wells, California or Miami because he is not vaccinated and cannot travel to the United States. The 20-time Grand Slam champion tweeted on Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control “confirmed the regulations won’t change so I won’t be able to play in the United States.” Djokovic has only been able to play in one tournament so far in 2022 because he hasn’t received any vaccinations to protect against COVID-19. He was kicked out of Australia in January and not allowed to try and defend his title at Melbourne Park. Djokovic’s name was entered into the draw for the BNP Paribas California Open on Tuesday, even though the United States requires foreign visitors to be vaccinated to enter the country.

Ajla Tomljanovic wins the first round

Ajla Tomljanovic of Croatia beat the American Hailey Baptist 6-2, 2-6, 6-2 in the first round of the Open BNP Paribas. Ekaterina Alexandrova of Russia defeated America Elvina Kaliera 4-6, 6-2, 7-6(7) despite 18 double faults as the combined men’s and women’s event returned to its usual March spot on the schedule after being disrupted by COVID-19. Alison Riske road Caty McNally 6-0, 6-3 in an all-American game. Kaia Kanepi beat a 17-year-old American Robin Montgomery 6-3, 6-3. Montgomery, winner of the junior girls’ singles and doubles titles at the 2021 US Open, hit 57% of her first serves but committed nine double faults. The other first-round winners were Americans Claire Liu, Petra Marticand Misaki Doi.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

Ed Cooley is the Big East Brothers’ first coach of the year

Ed Cooley was selected Big East Coach of the Year after guiding Providence to its first regular season championship. Cooley gives Providence its first Big East coach of the year after 43 seasons in the conference. Quite remarkable at a place where Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes, Pete Gillenand Tim Welsh all were successful. Picked seventh in the preseason poll, the 11th-ranked Brothers (24-4, 14-3) mounted a veteran field and a tight winning streak for their first Big East Tournament No. 1 seed. — with an animated Cooley pleading with them in the group to get tough and “Be guys!”

Rick Pitino named MAAC Coach of the Year

Rick Pitino, the Hall of Famer who led Iona to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference regular season title, was honored as Coach of the Year. In his second season with the program, the 69-year-old Pitino guided the Gaels to a 25-6 overall mark and 17-3 MAAC record to secure the top seed in the current conference tournament at Atlantic City, New Jersey. . He was selected in a vote by the league’s head coaches. Iona won a conference record 13 tournament titles.

Buddy Boeheim punches Florida State player in the stomach

Star of Syracuse Friend Boeheim apologized for hitting Florida State Wyatt Wilkes in the belly during the first half of Orange’s 96-57 victory in the second round of the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament. Boeheim was not called for a foul on the play, which happened after Syracuse made a field goal. “I saw the play, the kid pushed it twice,” Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said. “I think it was inadvertent. It wasn’t really a punch. Jim Boeheim dismissed the idea that his son could be suspended for ninth-seeded Syracuse’s quarterfinal game on Thursday. at Barclays Center against Duke, the number one seed.

SOCCER

Jessica Berman named new NWSL commissioner

Jessica Berman is seeking to rebuild trust with National Women’s Soccer League players and fans after a series of scandals rocked the league last year. Berman, a former NHL and National Lacrosse League executive, was named the new NWSL commissioner. Berman replaces Lisa Bairdwho resigned in October after allegations of sexual harassment and coercion were made against one of the league’s most high-profile coaches.

BASKETBALL

NBA suspended Sacramento Kings center Domantas Sabonis a game without pay for aggressively confronting and contacting an official who called him for a technical foul. Sabonis was ejected in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s game against the New York Knicks after receiving a technical double knock. The first was for an unsportsmanlike reaction to a flagged foul. He then “approached and shoved the official in a hostile manner,” the league said, which led to the second technical and his ejection … New Orleans Pelicans scoring leader Brandon Ingram, who missed games on Tuesday and Wednesday with right hamstring pain, will be sidelined for at least one more week, the club announced. An MRI revealed mild strain on the injured hamstring, the team said, adding that Ingram would be reassessed in seven to 10 days.

COLLECTION

Former Red Sox pitcher Ike Delock dies at 92

Ivan “Ike” Delock, a right-handed pitcher with the Red Sox from 1952 to 1963, died Feb. 28. He was 92 years old. Delock has taken on all the roles a pitcher can have. He started 147 games and pitched in relief 182 times, often as a closer. He earned a reputation for his stubbornness on the mound while pitching for teams that were rarely in contention. After a brief stint with the Baltimore Orioles to end his career, Delock died at WakeMed Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina from the effects of dementia… Kent Waldrep, a former college running back whose crippling injury in a 1974 game led to a life of activism during which he served on a federal agency that recommended enactment of the Americans with Disabilities Act and raised millions of dollars for spinal cord research, died February 29. 27 in Natchitoches, Louisiana. He was 67… Gillette Stadium will host the quarter-finals of the Premier Lacrosse League this year. There will be three knockout matches on September 3. The action starts at noon this Saturday and matches at 2:45 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. follow… Kevin Magnussen will make a surprise return to Formula 1 this season with the same team that fired him a year ago. The Danish pilot has been rehired by Haas F1 to replace the Russian pilot Nikita Mazepinwho was sacked this weekend after Russia invaded Ukraine.