Unvaccinated Novak Djokovic can play in US Open 2022 after USA confirms Covid rule changes

Former world number one men’s tennis player Novak Djokovic’s hopes of participating in the year’s final Grand Slam – the US Open – received a big boost recently when American health chiefs relaxed nationwide coronavirus guidance for unvaccinated people two-and-a-half weeks before the tournament. Under new rules, despite being unvaccinated, Djokovic can now play in New York.

TN Sports Desk

Updated Aug 13, 2022, 14:36 IST

Novak Djokovic is still COVID-19 unvaccinated.

Photo : AP

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Novak Djokovic can play in the 2022 US Open.
His hopes of participation received a big boost after US health authorities relaxed COVID guidance for unvaccinated people.
Djokovic is still COVID-19 unvaccinated.

21-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic’s chances of playing in the US Open tournament later this month received a big boost when American health chiefs relaxed nationwide coronavirus guidance for unvaccinated people two-and-a-half weeks before the start of the tournament.

The former world number one tennis player had not taken a vaccine against COVID-19 and because of that was barred from entering the United States. But now, despite being ‘unvaccinated’, Djokovic can play in New York.

The American authorities have made changes to the COVID norms. They have decided they will not discriminate between those who have taken the COVID vaccine and those who haven’t. This will allow the 2022 Wimbledon winner to play the final Grand Slam of the year beginning on August 29.

The US Open organisers are yet to officially announce the development. But it is certain now that Djokovic will be in action in New York.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced that they will be relaxing regulations surrounding entry requirements and quarantine. But for now, these changes are currently related to US citizens only.

On Thursday, the CDC, the agency that governs health measures in the United States, announced the end of many of the COVID restrictions. The main one is that, from Friday, vaccinated people will be treated the same as unvaccinated people.

The CDC has not as yet updated its travel advice, which currently states that all non-US citizens and nationals must be fully vaccinated before entering the country, although its website does state that this is under review following the latest update.

A statement read: "This updated guidance is intended to apply to community settings. In the coming weeks, 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 paves the way for the Serbian tennis player to play in the US Open. Djokovic has already missed out on participating in tournaments in North America. He could not participate in Montreal and Cincinnati in the lead-up to the US Open due to his unvaccinated status.

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