Djokovic may miss Australian Open on account of anti-vaxx stance

Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open title defence is doubtful after a authorities official stated that it’s unlikely that unvaccinated gamers will get visas to enter the nation.
“I don’t think an unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country and if they did get a visa, they’d probably have to quarantine for a couple of weeks,” Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews was quoted as saying by Reuters.
“I don’t think that the person you indicated (Djokovic) or any other tennis player, let’s not personalise it … or golfer or Formula One driver will even get a visa to get here. If I’m wrong, I’m sure the federal government will let you know.”
On Monday, Djokovic declined to disclose his vaccination standing and stated he was uncertain if he would compete at Melbourne Park in January because of the Covid-19 associated restrictions. “Things being as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne,” the world No.1 advised Serbian day by day Blic.
“I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not. It is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry. People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person. Whatever you say ‘yes, no, maybe, I am thinking about it’, they will take advantage.”
The 34-year-old — who’s tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 Grand Slam singles titles — has received the Australian Open a document 9 occasions, together with the previous three editions.
“Of course, I want to go. Australia is my most successful Grand Slam tournament,” he stated. “I want to compete, I love this sport and I am still motivated. I am following the situation regarding the Australian Open and I understand the final decision (on restrictions) will be made in two weeks. I believe there will be a lot of restrictions just like this year, but I doubt there will be too many changes. My manager, who is in contact with the Australian tennis federation, tells me they are trying to improve the conditions for everyone, both for those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.”
No particular preparations
Andrews, nevertheless, stated that he opposed particular preparations to let unvaccinated athletes compete within the state.“On the question of vaccination, no,” Andrews advised a media briefing. “(The virus) doesn’t care what your tennis ranking is, or how many Grand Slams you’ve won. It’s completely irrelevant. You need to be vaccinated to keep yourself safe and to keep others safe.”
Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest metropolis, has been underneath a lockdown since August to regulate the unfold of the extremely infectious Delta variant. Restrictions for the town’s 5 million folks might be eased from Friday when 70 per cent of the grownup inhabitants in Victoria is anticipated to be totally vaccinated.
Victoria lately included skilled athletes in a vaccine mandate overlaying tens of millions of “authorised workers”, with out clarifying whether or not it utilized to athletes from abroad or different Australian states. According to the mandate, authorised staff should have their first vaccine shot by October 15 and their second by November 26 or face being banned from their workplaces. “Professional sport is part of those (items on the) authorised worker list and they have to be double-dose vaccinated,” Andrews stated, including that Victoria’s stance may very well be a “moot point”, given the federal authorities won’t concern visas to unvaccinated athletes.
According to The Age, Tennis Australia chief Craig Tiley urged the Victorian authorities to carry off on a vaccine mandate for athletes, earlier than dropping his opposition to what two authorities sources stated was the sturdy probability that Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton would solely allow vaccinated gamers. “Tiley said we won’t get star players and the state government effectively said ‘suck it up’. They capitulated,” The Age quoted a supply claiming direct data of the negotiations.There’s additionally hypothesis on Djokovic’s vaccination standing. Earlier this month, photos emerged of the Serb at a live performance in New York’s Central Park, which required all attendees to be vaccinated.
Last April, Djokovic made his stance on vaccines recognized: “Personally I’m opposed to vaccination, and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.”

Former World No.1 Andy Roddick lately questioned whether or not gamers could be prepared to let go of their private beliefs in an effort to play. “There are some people who are like – ‘I have like these beliefs but I could put those to the side if it means I could play in a tennis tournament,” Roddick advised the Tennis Channel. “If we start to look at the timelines… it’s October 15th (the date for authorised workers to get the first shot). You figure, at least three weeks between shots, if you’re Pfizer, four weeks between shots, if you’re Moderna then two weeks. After that you are considered fully vaccinated. So, players are gonna have to start making that decision now.”
Tsitsipas’ U-turn
In August, World No.3 Stefanos Tsitsipas stated that he would solely get the vaccination if ATP Tour made it necessary.
“I don’t see any reason for someone of my age to do it – it hasn’t been tested enough and it has side effects — as long as it’s not mandatory, everyone can decide for themselves,” stated Tsitsipas, who was the focus of Greece’s ‘Stay Home’ marketing campaign on the peak of the pandemic final 12 months.
 
After criticism from the Greek authorities — “He does not have the knowledge and studies to assess the need for vaccinations” — Tsitsipas revealed his plans to get vaccinated by the top of the 12 months (File)
“I will get vaccinated this year,” he advised Antenna TV. “So I can go to restaurants and shops. I support all those who get vaccinated. I am not a doctor; I am a tennis player, so I may not have the most substantiated opinion when it comes to medical issues.”
Women’s World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka missed the Indian Wells event this month after testing constructive for Covid-19. The 23-year-old publicly expressed hesitation concerning the vaccine earlier this 12 months.
“So far I don’t really trust it,” Sabalenka advised reporters in March. “It’s tough to say, but I don’t really want it yet and I don’t want my family to take it. If I have to do it, then of course I have to do it because our life is a travel life.”