Novak Djokovic hasn't participated in any of the North American hard court swing following Wimbledon due to his vaccination status, but his US Open hopes got a major boost on Friday morning.
Djokovic, who is unvaccinated against Covid, has already missed the Australian Open this year after a wild immigration sequence saw him receive an exemption from the Australian government before it was withdrawn after he arrived.
The 21-time Slam champion has missed a number of tournaments overall this year, and as it stands, he won't be able to enter the United States and play in the US Open, one of his best events.
However, the CDC announced that, "unvaccinated people now have the same guidelines as vaccinated people," in the United States.
The immigration guidelines have not yet been updated, but they're currently "under review" following the domestic update.
Unvaccinated non-citizens are currently unable to enter the country. If that is changed, Djokovic may show up for America's Grand Slam event.
Oddsmakers have been cautious to count him out, keeping him available on the market throughout the year.
Djokovic saw a slight decrease in odds following the news, moving from +150 to +130 at some books, and his longest odds available are now +150.
Daniil Medvedev is the second-favorite, listed at +220 over at FanDuel. Carlos Alcaraz slots in behind him (+370), while Rafael Nadal comes in at +500.
Nick Kyrgios, the man who has put together an ungodly summer, is the only other player listed under +1000. He's +850 to take home his first Grand Slam title.
It will be important to monitor CDC guidance with regards to odds as they'll shift heavily based on the decision that the organization takes.
