New York | Djokovic cleared for US Open

While Novak Djokovic has been unable to compete at the Master events currently being held in the US, he will no doubt be elated to learn that the US Senate has now lifted the restrictions that have prevented the Serbian from entering the country

Djokovic has never wavered from his resolve not to be vaccinated against Covid-19 and consequently, as US Immigration rules stated everyone entering the country had to be vaccinated, he has been forced to sit out a series of major events over the past two years.

In fact he hasn’t competed at the final major of the year since 2021, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev in the final, when he was on the verge of joining an elite and exclusive list of calendar Grand Slam champions.

On Wednesday, the Senate voted and passed a bill to end the Covid-19 public health emergency, which is now expected to be signed by President Joe Biden.

Earlier this month, Djokovic told CNN he was keen to return to Flushing Meadows this year.

“I really want to be playing there, want to be there,” he said.

“I actually had in 2021, when I lost in the finals against Medvedev, probably one of the best moments I ever had with the New York crowd. I’ve been fortunate to win that tournament three times, play many finals.

“Even though I lost that match, I received a lot of love and appreciation from people, and I want to go back and I want to reconnect with the crowd there. So that’s something I’m looking forward to and hopefully it will happen.”

Djokovic is expected to be back in action at the Monte Carlo Masters which begins on April 9, as the European clay-court season gets underway leading to the second major of the season in Paris, the French Open where his great rival Nadal ,is expected to be going for an extraordinary 15th title!