Novak Djokovic will be able to once again play tennis events in America after the government announced their emergency law requiring all international arrivals to have a COVID-19 vaccination will come to an end on May 11.
The world No.1 hasn’t played a tournament in the country since losing in the final of the 2021 US Open to Daniil Medvedev. Djokovic is one of the most high-profile athletes not to be vaccinated against the virus. He has previously explained that his decision to do so is due to reservations about what effects the vaccine could have on his body even though it has been approved by the World Health Organisation.
Djokovic’s stance has resulted in him missing a series of top events. He was unable to compete at last year’s Australian Open following a legal dispute with authorities. Djokovic travelled to the country believing a special exemption would allow him entry into the country. However, border officials declared this to be an invalid reason which resulted in the tennis star going through two court hearings before getting deported.
More recently, he attempted to play in Indian Wells and Miami in March by applying for a special exemption to be allowed into the region but was denied. Due to that absence, he briefly lost his No.1 Position to Carlos Alcaraz before regaining it two weeks later.
News of Djokovic’s ability to return to America comes as he faces a race against time to be fit for next month’s French Open where he is seeking a record 23rd major title. In his past two tournaments, the Serbian suffered a third round loss to Lorenzo Musetti in Monte Carlo and then a quarter-final defeat to Dusan Lajovic in Bosnia. It was at his latest tournament where he shed some light on his elbow issue by saying it “is not in an ideal condition, but let’s say it’s good enough.”
Djokovic isn’t playing in Madrid but is expected to return to action at the Rome Masters which will begin next Monday.
