Novak Djokovic gets US Open ‘update’ as Covid rules ‘revised’ before tournament

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Novak Djokovic has received an update on his US Open fate after the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated their website and maintained their rule that unvaccinated foreign nationals were still banned from entering the country. It means that the 21-time Grand Slam champion remains unable to compete with the tournament beginning in just four days, while the draw will be made on Thursday.

It is looking increasingly likely that Djokovic will be banned from competing in the upcoming US Open after the CDC updated their website with the current travel restrictions. The web page outlining requirements for foreign nationals entering the country was revised on Wednesday, with those who are unvaccinated still barred from travelling to America.

In the section labelled “Travel Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizen, Non-U.S. Immigrants” the rules state: “You must be fully vaccinated with the primary series of an accepted COVID-19  vaccine to travel to the United States by plane. Only limited exceptions apply.” 

But the three-time US Open champion doesn’t look set to receive an exemption with any exception likely to have been granted a while ago, while the tournament itself confirmed it would be respecting the government’s travel restrictions in a statement released last month. “The US Open does not have a vaccination mandate in place for players, but it will respect the U.S. government’s position regarding travel into the country for unvaccinated non-U.S. citizens,” it read.

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Djokovic is yet to withdraw from the US Open, likely waiting until the last possible moment in case restrictions are loosened to allow him to travel, but with the CDC revising the website just five days before the start of the tournament and failing to change the rules it appears unlikely that they will change in time.

The draw is set to be made at 5pm UK time (12pm New York) on Thursday, and with hours to go it remains to be seen whether the world No 6 will pull out before the draw is determined or keep himself in the entry list and pull out closer to time – something that will then result in the line-up needing to be rejigged.

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Earlier this month, Djokovic confirmed he was still holding out hope as he took to Instagram to update fans, writing: “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 to US. Fingers crossed!” And it could be a close call after the CDC loosened restrictions inside the US on social distancing and quarantining, announcing that other measures would be re-evaluated “soon”.

Just two weeks ago, they said: “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.”

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