Novak Djokovic, number one in men’s tennis, is on the list of participants of the Aopen from Australia of next January, disclosed by its organizers, after weeks of speculation about its presence by the mandatory to be vaccinated.
The Serbian, a 20-time Grand Slam winner, had cast doubt on his participation in the Australian Open, but on Tuesday his name already appeared on the list of players of the Serbian team at the ATP Cup from Sydney in January, which led to the belief that he would also contest the Open.
Djokovic, 34, does not want to reveal his vaccination status. His father suggested last month that his son would not contest the tournament and accused the organizers of “blackmail.”
The organizers of the first Grand Slam of the year insist that only fully vaccinated players will be able to participate and this Wednesday they reiterated this again when communicating the list of participants.
Any exceptions will have to follow strict government regulations“they said.
“Any allegation suggesting that the federation would seek to break these rules is simply false.“he added, when some media raised the possibility that the tournament organizers, with the support of Tennis Australia, are seeking to allow Djokovic to benefit from an exemption.
“Everyone is looking forward to attending the Australian Open. And everyone who takes part, spectators, players, managers, technical teams, must be fully vaccinated“repeated once again the Deputy Prime Minister of the State of Victoria, where Melbourne is the capital, James Merlino.
FEDERER AND SERENA, ABSENT
“It is the rule. Medical exemptions are only medical exemptions, they are not means to avoid these rules by privileged tennis players,” he insisted.
Winner of three of the Grand Slam tournaments last season and nine Australian Open titles, Djokovic would become the first tennis player to win 21 Grand Slam titles in Melbourne.
Spanish is also on the list of those present Reef Nadal, who has only played two games since losing in the semi-finals at Roland Garros in June due to a foot injury. Nadal has also won, like Djokovic, 20 Grand Slams.
One of the absent will be the Swiss Roger Federer, which had already announced that it would not participate.
Neither will the American Serena Williams, whose presence was expected, but the winner of 23 Grand Slams, is not in top physical shape and decided not to compete according to medical indications.
It’s not an easy decision to make, but I’m not at the point where you have to be physically in order to compete, “Williams said.
Ashleigh Barty, world number 1, will try to become the first Australian to win at home in 44 years. In front of her will be, among others, the Japanese Naomi Osaka.
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