The number 1 in world tennis, Serbian Novak Djokovic, “probably will not participate” in the next Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, due to the mandatory vaccination against Covid-19 established by the organization.
The player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, told a Serbian television station that his son “would like to go” to the tournament that enshrined him nine times (2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 and 2021 ), but he doubted his presence for what he considered “blackmail” by the Aus Open leaders.
Craig Tiley, head of the tournament scheduled for January 17-30, declared this Sunday that Djokovic “must be vaccinated to play.”
Novak’s father defended his son’s “exclusive and personal right” to be vaccinated or not and clarified that he does not know if his son was inoculated.
“Of course he would like to go, because he is an athlete and because there are many compatriots there, who would be happy to see Novak. But I do not know if that will happen, probably not in those conditions, with this blackmail, done that way”, said the player’s father in statements reproduced by the AFP agency.
PORTADA PHOTO: JOE KLAMAR / AFP
WITH INFORMATION FROM TELAM
–
