Novak Djokovic has conquered 9 Australian Open in his incredible career and aims to get his record-making 21st slam. Unfortunately, that may not happen in January 2022 since players need to be fully vaccinated to participate in the Australian Open.
Novak Djokovic is notoriously against vaccination, and at this point, there are serious doubts that the Serbian Legend will participate in the first slam of the year.
Talking on Channel Nine, Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley confirmed that Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews stated that players need to be fully vaccinated.
“It’s been made very clear when the Premier announced several weeks ago that in order to participate at the Australian Open, to come into Victoria, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated.
Immediately we communicated that to the playing group, it is the one direction that you take that is going to ensure everyone’s safety. All the playing group understands it, our patrons will need to be vaccinated, all the staff working at the Australian Open will need to be vaccinated.
But when we’re in a state where there’s more than 90 per cent of the population fully vaccinated, they’ve done a magnificent job with that, it’s the right thing to do.”
It's full steam ahead for the Australian Open in January – with no crowd caps.
Preparations for the event are officially kicking-off today. #9Today pic.twitter.com/LVFIGZdDln
— The Today Show (@TheTodayShow) November 19, 2021
Novak Djokovic in 2021
Now the world no.1, Djokovic played his last match on the 19th of November when he defeated world no.12 Cameron Norrie 6-2 6-1 in the round robin in the Nitto ATP Finals (draw).
Currently, during this year Djokovic has achieved a composed 51-6 record. Djokovic clinched 5 titles in 2021 at the Australian Open, in Belgrade, at the French Open, in Wimbledon and in Paris. The Serbian was the finalist in Rome and at the U.S. Open.
Novak Djokovic |
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