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SYDNEY (Reuters) – No tennis player hoping to compete in the Australian Open has yet obtained a medical exemption from vaccination, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Thursday, reiterating that everyone in Melbourne Park should be fully vaccinated.
Tiley also said Novak Djokovic being named to the Australian Open entry list on Wednesday implied nothing about his COVID-19 vaccination status, which the world number one declined to disclose, citing confidentiality.
“To be clear from the start, no one can play at the Australian Open if they are not vaccinated,” Tiley told the ABC.
“The only condition you could compete with other than being vaccinated is if you receive a medically approved exemption from Australian authorities…
“I saw reports this morning. No medical exemptions have been granted at this point.”
Tiley added that the appearance on the entry list had no bearing on whether Djokovic would actually be in Melbourne January 17-30 in search of a 10th Australian Open title and a record for 21st men’s Grand Slam singles title.
“Everyone is going on the entry list,” Tiley said. “This is not an entry list on who exactly is in the draw. It will be several weeks from now when the list and the draw are finalized for the Australian Open.”
Serena Williams was not on the list, having decided not to compete on the advice of her medical team, as was Roger Federer, who is still recovering from a series of knee operations.
Djokovic said last week that he would make a decision “very soon” about his trip to Australia.
His father Srdjan said last month that Djokovic was unlikely to play and described the vaccination requirement as amounting to “blackmail”.
Tiley also said Novak Djokovic being named to the Australian Open entry list on Wednesday implied nothing about his COVID-19 vaccination status, which the world number one declined to disclose, citing confidentiality.
“To be clear from the start, no one can play at the Australian Open if they are not vaccinated,” Tiley told the ABC.
“The only condition you could compete with other than being vaccinated is if you receive a medically approved exemption from Australian authorities…
“I saw reports this morning. No medical exemptions have been granted at this point.”
Tiley added that the appearance on the entry list had no bearing on whether Djokovic would actually be in Melbourne January 17-30 in search of a 10th Australian Open title and a record for 21st men’s Grand Slam singles title.
“Everyone is going on the entry list,” Tiley said. “This is not an entry list on who exactly is in the draw. It will be several weeks from now when the list and the draw are finalized for the Australian Open.”
Serena Williams was not on the list, having decided not to compete on the advice of her medical team, as was Roger Federer, who is still recovering from a series of knee operations.
Djokovic said last week that he would make a decision “very soon” about his trip to Australia.
His father Srdjan said last month that Djokovic was unlikely to play and described the vaccination requirement as amounting to “blackmail”.
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