Novak Djokovic free to play at US Open as United States changes vaccine policy

Novak Djokovic will be able to travel to the United States and play in the 2023 US Open, thanks to the lifting of the country's vaccine mandate.

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The world number one is not vaccinated against Covid-19 and had previously been unable to enter America.

But US policy will change on 12 May, allowing the 22-time Grand Slam winner to return to Flushing Meadows in August.

A White House statement said: "Today, we are announcing that the Administration will end the Covid-19 vaccine requirements for Federal employees, Federal contractors, and international air travellers at the end of the day on May 11, the same day that the Covid-19 public health emergency ends."

Djokovic, 35, missed both Australian Open and the US Open tournaments in 2022 because of his vaccination status.

The Serbian had applied for special permission to play in the US last month at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open but did not receive dispensation to do so.

With vaccination against Covid-19 no longer required to enter Australia, Djokovic competed at this year's Australian Open in January and won his latest major singles title.

Djokovic has won the US Open title three times with his victories coming in 2011, 2015 and 2018.