As France lifts vaccination requirements, Djokovic cleared for Roland Garros return

WATCH: Tennis Channel Live discusses how Novak Djokovic's vaccination status affects his schedule.

The French government has announced that vaccination requirements to enter public facilities will be lifted on March 14, which would allow unvaccinated players—most prominently world No. 2 Novak Djokovic—to compete in the French Open and other tournaments held in France.

The measure also removes such requirements for the ATP Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, and would allow Djokovic to play there. The 34-year-old Serb has competed in just one event this season—a quarterfinal exit in Dubai—following a highly-publicized controversy when he was denied a medical exemption by the Australian government to compete there.

Djokovic does not plan to compete in Miami or Indian Wells, citing vaccination requirements for travel into the United States, and has said he will decide his schedule based on where he is allowed to play.

If the requirements are not reimposed, Djokovic will now get to defend his title at the French Open. There are also no vaccination requirements currently affecting Wimbledon. This week, he also announced that longtime coach Marian Vajda would be leaving his team on amicable terms.

The coach indicated that Djokovic's reduced schedule was a factor. ''As an unvaccinated player, he will have a limited number of tournaments, and he already has a strong team with coach Goran Ivanisevic," he was quoted as saying.

The change will also allow French player Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who, like Djokovic, is among the very few unvaccinated tour players, to compete more freely. He currently has a medical exemption based on having had coronavirus at the start of this season, but it would have only been valid for four months.

"For me it's a relief, but I have the impression it is for everyone," he told L'Equipe. "Now we can leave a tough subject behind. Though I tell myself it could come back at any point. The good news is I can play Roland Garros."

Though ranked No.112 in singles, Herbert is No. 8 in the ATP doubles rankings.