On Wednesday, tennis fans received the fantastic news that Novak Djokovic is part of the Australian Open entry list.
However, in order to participate in the slam Down Under, tennis players are required to be fully vaccinated unless they have a very rare medical exemption. Novak Djokovic is notoriously against vaccination. Therefore, there have been many speculations that the world number 1 received a medical exemption.
The Australian Open director and one of the most appreciated figures in tennis, Craig Tiley, confirm that Novak Djokovic and no other players have received any medical exception, at least so far.
Craig also stressed that the entry list about the players competing in the Australian Open is still quite preliminary. This implies that it is not one hundred percent sure that Novak Djokovic and the other players in the entry list will compete in the first slam of the year.
“To be clear up front, no one can play the Australian Open unless they are vaccinated. The only condition at which, outside of being vaccinated, that you could compete is if you receive a medically approved exemption from Australian authorities.
I’ve seen reports this morning. There have been no medical exemptions that have been granted at this point.
Everyone goes on the entry list. It’s not a commitment list about exactly who’s in the draw. That comes in several weeks’ time when the actual list and draw get finalized for the Australian Open.”
Unfortunately, there is no confirmation that some top players like Roger Federer, Serena Williams, Stan Wawrinka, and Bianca Andreescu are not going to play the Australian Open this year.
Tennis Australia has clarified the confusion around Novak Djokovic's participation in the Australian Open, after the world number one was included on the tournament's entry list despite not yet declaring his vaccination status. Here is @CraigTiley speaking to @mjrowland68 pic.twitter.com/7HavHIvEgS
— News Breakfast (@BreakfastNews) December 8, 2021
Novak Djokovic in 2021
Now the world no.1, Novak played his last match on the 3rd of December when he beat world no.30 Marin Cilic 6-4 6-2 in the Rubber 2 of the Davis Cup (draw).
Currently, during this season Novak has a compiled 55-7 win-loss record. The Serbian clinched 5 titles in 2021 at the Australian Open, in Belgrade, at the French Open, in Wimbledon and in Paris. Novak was the runner-up in Rome and at the U.S. Open.
