Covid-19 rules relaxation gives Djokovic chance of playing US Open

As it stands, the rule requiring all inbound overseas travellers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 remains in place.

Covid-19 rules relaxation gives Djokovic chance of playing US Open
Novak Djokovic

Tennis great Novak Djokovic has been given a late glimmer of hope that he can participate in the US Open after American health authorities suddenly relaxed Covid-19 protocols.

The Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention (CDC) announced a series of new guidelines on Thursday, one of which states that “unvaccinated people now have the same guidance as vaccinated people”.

These relate to community settings such as schools and restaurants.

As it stands, the rule requiring all inbound overseas travellers to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 remains in place.

However, it is possible that this could be removed before the start of the US Open on August 29 as the CDC’s travel section now states that the “CDC is reviewing this page to align with updated guidance”.

A statement from the CDC read: “In the coming weeks, the CDC will work to align stand-alone guidance documents, such as those for healthcare settings, congregate settings at higher risk of transmission, and travel, with today’s update.”

This is a welcome boost for the Djokovic camp. He has repeatedly insisted this year that he will not be receiving the Covid-19 vaccine even if he was to be denied entry to the United States. His coach Goran Ivanisevic said last week he had “zero hope” that the rule would be relaxed in time.

In the meantime, Djokovic has been training on hard courts in Europe to ensure his game and body are in good shape. He told his fans on social media a fortnight ago that he was “preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel to the US”.

Djokovic had received support for his bid to play in New York from some of his fellow players, including John Isner and John Millman.

He was also backed by four Republican members of congress, who co-signed a letter to President Joe Biden earlier this month calling for him to drop the vaccination mandate. One line described Djokovic as a “perfect ambassador”.

Djokovic has not played a competitive match since he won his 21st grand slam men’s singles title at Wimbledon last month, moving to within one of the record holder Rafael Nadal.

He withdrew from this week’s ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Montreal and next week’s in Cincinnati because of the vaccination requirements to enter Canada and the United States.