Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic will miss out on participation if he remains unvaccinated, says minister

Australia has made it clear that players willing to participate in the Australian Open 2022 will need to get entirely jabbed with the COVID vaccine to be eligible for a visa for their stay in the country during the tournament. The announcement has cast thus cast doubt on the participation of the 20-time Grand Slam champion and the record nine-time defending champion Novak Djokovic of Serbia.

Speaking to Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio, Alex Hawke (Australia's Minister for Immigration) has asserted that there would be no preferential treatment for unvaccinated players in the tournament in Melbourne in January 2022. He clarified that the rule is applicable for tennis players and any visitor who decides to visit the land Down Under.

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As per Reuters, 65% of players in the ATP circuit and 60% of players in the WTA circuit are vaccinated. While both ATP and WTA are urging players to get wholly vaccinated, some players continue to have their reservations. Moreover, Greg Hunt (Australian health minister) has affirmed that the rules have been placed for the utmost protection of the Aussies.

Earlier, Djokovic had decided against revealing his vaccination status. At the same time, he told Serbian media house Blic that he was unsure if he would travel to Melbourne in January to defend his AO crown. He also felt that enquiring about his vaccination status is inappropriate and is his private matter.

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However, he has asserted that he would love to travel to Melbourne next year and is monitoring the AO's situation while his manager is in constant touch with the Australian Tennis Federation. While Djokovic has been out of competitive tennis action for over a month now, he plans to compete in the Paris Masters, followed by the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup this year.