Australian Ministers of Immigration and Health said on Wednesday that to return to the country and therefore to play the next Australian Open, it would be necessary to be vaccinated.
According to the press agency AP, 35% of tennis players and 40% of female players are not yet fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Suffice to say that these figures do not increase by January, the tables of the Australian Open may be emptied of a few top names and open to players with a very low ranking. Indeed, while the tournament leaders are giving themselves two more weeks to unveil the protocol related to the health crisis, the Australian government does not want to procrastinate. “ It will take a double vaccination to be able to come to Australia. It’s an app for everyone, not just tennis players. Each visitor wishing to travel to Australia will need to be doubly vaccinated. I don’t have a special message for Novak (Djokovic). I have a message for everyone “, Announced the Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke at the microphone ofABC. Same story for his colleague in Health, Greg Hunt, who spoke at a press conference: “It applies to everyone, without fear or favor. It doesn’t matter if you are # 1 in the world or otherwise. “
Can Djokovic give up the quest for a 21st Major?
And while a senator recalled that Novak Djokovic has already had the covid (in June 2020, during the now famous Adria Tour that he organized, and which turned into a cluster), the president of the Medical Association of Victoria (where Melbourne is located, a city confined for more than 200 days in six times) said immunity from the vaccine was better than immunity from having had the virus. World No.1 Novak Djokovic, who said on Monday that he did not know if he would go to Australia and that he did not want to say if he was vaccinated or not (one can assume not), thus finds himself to the wall. If he wants to go and win a 21st Grand Slam title, in his favorite Major (he won nine times in Melbourne), he will have to be vaccinated. But it would be surprising if the world number one is the only missing mark, because other top names may also refuse the vaccine obligation.