Novak Djokovic looks set to appear at the 2023 US Open after the United States Senate passed a bill to end COVID-19 restrictions.
The 22-time grand slam champion last competed in the tournament two years ago, losing to Daniil Medvedev 6-4 6-4 6-4 in the final.
He missed the 2022 edition because he had not been vaccinated against coronavirus, with the USA making vaccines a requirement for international travellers arriving in the country from November 8, 2021.
Djokovic was also absent for the 2022 Australian Open as he was deported from the country after immigration officials cancelled his visa because of the Serbian's unvaccinated status.
He returned to Melbourne Park at the start of this year and won a 10th Australian Open title – he will be hoping for a similar impact at Flushing Meadows after his return moved a step closer to reality.
On Wednesday, the US Senate voted in favour of ending the COVID-19 national emergency declared in March 2020, meaning the bill is now set to be considered by President Joe Biden, who is expected to sign.
As such, Djokovic will – assuming he is not ruled out for other reasons – be able to compete at this year's tournament, which is due to begin on August 28.
The news will surely come as major boost to Djokovic, who has already been prevented from entering US-based tournaments in 2023.
The 35-year-old was denied clearance to enter the US earlier in March ahead of Indian Wells and the Miami Open, with his application for special permission turned down by officials.
Cameron Norrie hoping to have Jon Bon Jovi’s support at Wimbledon
Cameron Norrie still has business to attend to at the French Open but the British number one is looking forward to having celebrity backing at Wimbledon this summer.
Norrie could hardly be described as a rock and roll tennis player but he revealed an unlikely friendship earlier this year when he hit with singing superstar Jon Bon Jovi.
Bon Jovi watched Norrie in Miami and the 27-year-old is hoping to see him in his player box at the All England Club.
View this post on Instagram“It was so cool to play with him,” said Norrie, whose girlfriend knows one of Bon Jovi’s sons.
“He is really liking tennis more and more, and I think he’s going to make an appearance at Wimbledon and come watch. So it’s cool to see him enjoying it. To meet him and to hang out with him was great.
“I’m not really the biggest of his fans. Obviously I respect his music and I know a lot of his songs. It’s cool to see him getting involved in tennis and liking it. He’s playing almost every day.
“I’ll hopefully see him hitting some balls over Wimbledon time. I’m sure he’ll be enjoying Wimbledon. I think he has a couple of shows planned in British summertime as well.”
Norrie will try to break new ground at Roland Garros on Friday when he takes on talented young Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the third round.
The British number one is through to this stage for the third year in a row but has never been further, and to do so he must reverse the result of a clash on clay in Barcelona a few weeks ago.
“I was playing at such a high level with him and I lost a bit of concentration and a bit of focus, and my level dropped a lot, but I was able to figure out ways to win points,” said Norrie of 21-year-old Musetti.
“I think I have a pretty decent game to play him but I’m going to have to play really, really well. His best surface is clay and he’s had a lot of really tough matches.
“He took Djokovic to five here, so he can play well. I think it’s a really tough draw and I’m really going to have to play my best with him to have a chance. He beat me in the last one so, good guy, good third round. I’m expecting a tough match.”
While Musetti represents a step up from his previous opponents, Norrie will no doubt be relieved not to have to take on the French crowd again after his victories over Benoit Paire and Lucas Pouille.
The Paire clash was a five-set rollercoaster but Norrie lost only seven games against Pouille and played down concerns over the strapping under his left knee.
“In the first round with Benoit, I hit a smash at the back of the court early in the second set and I felt it a little bit,” he said.
“I think as tennis players we’re dealing with a few niggles here and there. I’ve been working hard with my team to make sure I’m getting my body as ready as possible.
“I was able to play with no problem, so it was a good sign. I was really happy with how I moved and reacted and returned and made a lot of first balls. It definitely didn’t hinder my performance at all.”
While Norrie has been the only British singles player remaining in Paris since Monday, representation in the doubles is still going strong.
Jamie Murray and his New Zealand partner Michael Venus moved through to the third round with a 6-1 7-5 victory over Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Farah on Thursday.
Murray linked up with Venus following the retirement of his former partner Bruno Soares last year and the pair have already won three titles together, including in Geneva last week.
“We did really well,” said Murray. “I think we played a really good match. We knew we’d have to play well to get those guys. I’ve played them so many times.
“We did a lot of good things today so I’m happy. I’m excited about where the team is right now and where we can get to.”
Emma Raducanu splits with coach Sebastian Sachs after less than six months
Emma Raducanu has split with her coach of less than six months Sebastian Sachs.
Raducanu only appointed the former German player in mid-December, but she has announced a parting of the ways.
“I have really enjoyed Seb’s coaching and working with him, it’s unfortunate that circumstances made it unfeasible for both of us to continue right now and we have decided to part ways. I wish Seb all the best moving forwards,” Raducanu tweeted.
The 2021 US Open champion is currently sidelined and could miss the entire grass-court season following surgery on her wrists and ankle.
Sachs was her fifth coach in two years, following Nigel Sears, Andrew Richardson, Torben Beltz and Dmitry Tursunov.
The 31-year-old coached Swiss player Belinda Bencic when she won a gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
His brief stint with Raducanu included the Australian Open in January, but their partnership is now over.
French Open day four: Cameron Norrie plays the role of villain again
Cameron Norrie played the villain’s role again by taking out his second French opponent, this time Lucas Pouille, to reach the third round at Roland Garros.
After his five-set victory over Benoit Paire, Norrie had a much more comfortable time in a 6-1 6-3 6-3 win over Pouille to set up a clash with young Italian Lorenzo Musetti.
Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz both made it through to the last 32 without any real alarms but Caroline Garcia, the biggest home hope, is out.
Picture of the dayTweet of the dayNick Kyrgios will wake up happy after Thanasi Kokkinakis’ five-set victory over Stan Wawrinka.
Shot of the dayUpset of the dayBarbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova have dominated women’s doubles recently and were looking to win a fifth straight grand slam title. So a first-round loss to Ulrikke Eikeri of Norway and Japan’s Eri Hozumi was a shock and a half.
Birthday girlFallen seedsMen: Roberto Bautista Agut (19), Sebastian Korda (24)
Women: Caroline Garcia (5), Liudmila Samsonova (15), Jelena Ostapenko (17), Zheng Qinwen (19)
Who’s up next?Defending women’s champion Iga Swiatek continues her campaign for a third title in Paris against American Claire Liu.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina meets teenage Czech Linda Noskova while Coco Gauff takes on Austria’s Julia Grabher.
In the men’s draw, the withdrawal of Gael Monfils means Alexander Zverev plays in the night session against Alex Molcan, with fourth seed Casper Ruud opening proceedings against Giulio Zeppieri.
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