All Australian Open players must be vaccinated in order to participate in the January 2022 tournament – their organization’s director Craig Tilly announced on Saturday (20), casting doubts over the participation of current world number one Novak Djokovic, who has refused to be vaccinated. refused even if he was immunized.
Tilly said tennis players have been told they must have a full vaccination schedule in order to compete at Melbourne Park.
The Australian city of Melbourne, where the tournament takes place, has spent 260 days in confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Victoria state government has said it will not grant any concessions to unvaccinated players.
Tilly told Channel 9 television: “There is a lot of speculation about vaccination and, to be clear, when the head of government (Victoria) announced that everyone (…) at the scene should be vaccinated, we Warned the players.”
“All players understand this. Our bosses should be vaccinated, whoever works at the Australian Open should be vaccinated,” he said.
It also features nine-time Australian tournament winner Djokovic.
According to Tilly, the Serbian star “said he considers it a private matter.”
“We would love to see Novak here. He knows he has to be vaccinated to play here,” he insisted.
This month, Djokovic said this month he would await official confirmation of Tennis Australia’s requirements before deciding whether to participate in the next edition of the tournament.
The 2021 Australian Open required players to undergo a two-week quarantine in a hotel and limited public appearances at competitions. Additionally, a quarantine was enacted in Melbourne in the middle of the tournament.
Organizers expect the 2022 event to take place from 17 January with vaccinated players able to enter Australia without the need for quarantine.
This time, there will be a public appearance, due to the fact that 90% of Victoria’s population has been vaccinated. This high rate of vaccination allowed the lifting of hygiene restrictions, such as limits on public capacity for sporting events.
Although it is not known whether Djokovic will be there, Tilly said Rafael Nadal will play his 21st Grand Slam, while Roger Federer has been ruled out due to a knee problem.
In the women’s rankings, current number one Ashleigh Barty has been confirmed as well as current tournament champion Naomi Osaka. Serena Williams will also reach her 24th Grand Slam chase, hoping to match Margaret Court’s mark.
