A GREAT TURN OF EVENTS IN MELBOURNE: Djoković WILL NOT PARTICIPATE in the Australian Open ?!
IZVOR: Republika - 14.12.2021 | 10:07
Serbian tennis player Novak Djoković was on the list of participants for the upcoming Australian Open yesterday. This was also a response to the great storm that arose in the public over Novak's position on vaccination against Coronavirus, however ...
As a reminder, Djoković did not want to reveal his status about vaccination, and he previously announced that there is a possibility that he will not perform in Australia, and the news about his participation in Melbourne made everyone happy. But that still doesn't mean that the best tennis player in the world will play in the tournament he has won nine times in his career and in which he is defending the title he won last year.
Also in the Australian media yesterday, there was information that Djoković would seek the opportunity to play in Australia without a vaccine and with a "medical exemption" , but CEO of Tennis Australia, Craig Tiley, warned that there was still a chance for the Serbian tennis player to withdraw.
- What has been published is the general list of participants and by the nature of things, everyone enters the list. It is not a binding list and it does not say who will specifically be in the main draw, which will come in a few weeks - Tiley explained.
Tiley also explained that medical experts will review the requests for "medical exemption", but that it will be difficult for Novak to get that.
- To be clear right away, no one can play at the Australian Open if they are not vaccinated. Either a double dose of the vaccine or one from Johnson & Johnson, which is also approved. The only option, other than being vaccinated, is to compete if you have received a justification for a medical exemption from the Australian authorities. I have seen reports in some media. So far, there have been no approved medical exceptions, Tiley added.
Djoković is also registered to participate in the ATP Cup with Serbia in Sydney, which is on the program at the beginning of January, while the Australian Open is being held from 17 until 30 January next year.