Novak Djokovic Will Compete In Australian Open Unvaccinated After Securing Medical Exemption
Topline
Novak Djokovic, the world’s top-ranked males’s tennis participant, announced Tuesday he’ll defend his Australian Open title in Melbourne later this month after securing a medical exemption from being vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19, ending weeks of hypothesis about whether or not he would skip the competition over its vaccine necessities.
Novak Djokovic mentioned he’ll compete within the Australian Open this yr after securing an exemption … [+]
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Key Info
In an Instagram post Tuesday, the tennis star mentioned he was “heading Down Beneath with an exemption permission” to compete within the event.
The submit ends weeks of hypothesis over whether or not the boys’s No. 1, who declined to substantiate whether or not he had been vaccinated in opposition to Covid-19, would return to Melbourne and defend his title.
The competition—and Australia—has strict vaccine necessities, which stipulate gamers should be totally vaccinated to play or safe a medical exemption from a panel of specialists.
What To Watch For
The event begins in Melbourne on January 17. Djokovic has received the Australian Open a file 9 instances and, together with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, holds the joint file of 20 Grand Slam males’s singles titles. Federer won’t compete in Melbourne as a consequence of an harm however Nadal, regardless of just lately testing constructive for Covid-19, confirmed his participation.
Key Background
Djokovic’s refusal to disclose his vaccination standing—one thing he referred to as a “non-public matter”—left a cloud of uncertainty hanging over his participation in main tournaments in 2022. This uncertainty intensified when the Serbian nationwide withdrew from the nation’s ATP Cup crew in late December.
Additional Studying
Novak Djokovic Makes Australian Open Listing Amid Uncertainty About Vaccination Standing (Forbes)
Novak Djokovic Picked For ATP Cup In Sydney Amid Questions About His Vaccination Standing (Forbes)
Australian Open Host State Shuts Door On Unvaccinated Gamers, Leaving Djokovic’s Title Protection In Peril (Forbes)
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