Novak Djokovic, three-time US Open champion, was supposed to sit out the 2022 edition of the Grand Slam event because he refused to get vaccinated against Covid. His vaccine status has not changed, but the Serb’s fans see in a new set of Covid guidelines, a ray of hope that Djokovic will be allowed to play at the US Open this year.

Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the US announced a relaxation of COVID-19 guidelines for unvaccinated people. However, for now, these cover only US citizens. If the same relaxation is extended to foreign visitors, it will allow Novak Djokovic to participate in the final Grand Slam event of the year.

Djokovic was denied entry into Australia and participation at the Australian Open early this year. He played the French Open 2022 – lost in the quarterfinals to Rafael Nadal – and the Wimbledon – which he won.

The Wimbledon win put Djokovic (21 titles) just one Grand Slam championship behind Nadal (22 titles), and the 35-year-old would want the opportunity to catch up sooner than later. It will be clear whether that chance will come as soon as the US Open when the draw for the tournament takes place on August 25, Thursday next.

“I am preparing as if I will be allowed to compete, while I await to hear if there is any room for me to travel US. Fingers crossed,” Djokovic, currently ranked number 6 in the world, said a few weeks ago.

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He has, however, made clear that his stand on vaccination is unchanged. “I’m not going to go to America if I don’t have permission, so the Australian saga for me was not pleasant at all,” he said, adding, “If I have permission, I’ll be there. If I don’t, I won’t be there – it’s not the end of the world.”

The CDC has announced that from August 19, unvaccinated people will be deemed equal to those vaccinated in the country. But the organization has still not updated its travel regulations. Its website says the decision is under review after the recent change in the national guidelines.

“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,” a statement issued by the CDC read.

Djokovic has already missed other tournaments in the US this year – the Montreal and Cincinnati Open – because he is not allowed into the country unvaccinated.

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The US Tennis Association, which organises the US Open, said in June this year that it will follow government policy in deciding whether unvaccinated players will be allowed to participate in the tournament.

“The US Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, but it will respect the US government’s position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-US citizens,” the USTA said.