Status: October 19, 2021 3:12 p.m.
The tennis world number one Djokovic has not yet decided whether he will travel to the Australian Open. He does not want to say whether he has been vaccinated against the corona or not. That is a private matter.
A beaten Novak Djokovic couldn’t hold back tears.
Image: John Minchillo / AP / dpa
The message from the other end of the world sounds clear, and it must have been specially formulated for the greatest of the tennis guild. “I don’t think an unvaccinated player can get a visa for this country. The virus doesn’t care where you are in the world or how many Grand Slams you have won,” said Dan Andrews, Victoria Prime Minister, where im January the Australian Open will take place.
Djokovic does not reveal his vaccination status
At the top of the world rankings is Novak Djokovic. The Serb has won 20 Grand Slam titles, nine of them in Melbourne. He does not want to reveal whether he is vaccinated or not, it is private, and any answer would be used against him anyway, Djokovic told the tabloid “Blic”. Obviously, however, he expects obstacles when entering the country and therefore leaves his title defense open: “I don’t know if I’ll fly to Australia.”
It would be a turning point in Djokovic’s career, 17 times, year after year since 2005, he has pitched in Melbourne Park. The facility on the Yarra River is to him what the Stade Roland Garros is to Roger Federer and the Stade Roland Garros to Rafael Nadal: his favorite place in the tennis world.
Threat to renounce the tournament
Nevertheless, he is ready to make a sacrifice to make himself heard, because Djokovic thinks he has discovered grievances. “Not only in sport, but also in the world in general, I am disappointed with the discord that is sown between the vaccinated and the unvaccinated,” said Djokovic. It is “terrible” when someone is discriminated against because they are making a decision for themselves. The media, which build up pressure and spread “fear and panic”, are primarily to blame for this state of affairs. That is also why he will not reveal his vaccination status, he prefers to do without his favorite tournament.
He will probably have to, because Djokovic’s influence is limited. Even before the US Open in September 2020, he had overestimated himself, wanted to intervene with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo against the corona measures, but did not advance. In Australia, his threat to forego the tournament will not affect decision-makers either. “Even if there were a visa, affected players would probably have to be in quarantine for several weeks,” said Prime Minister Andrews.
How many players are vaccinated?
Australia has been one of the countries with the most rigid entry rules since the beginning of the corona crisis and is still almost completely sealed off. In 2021, the Australian Open took place under great security measures, and all players had to be quarantined for two weeks. Alexander Zverev recently reported in Indian Wells that vaccinations are a big issue among players with a view to Australia, but the vaccination rate is (still) relatively low.
Although there are no exact figures because, in addition to Djokovic, other players such as the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas are hiding their status, according to the ATP players’ association, no more than 65 percent of the men were recently vaccinated. Some players like Dominic Thiem will be vaccinated during the winter break, if you remain skeptical, you have to fly, or: watch the Australian Open.