NOVAK DJOKOVIC will be allowed to play at the Australian Open – even if he hasn’t been vaccinated.
The world No1, 34, remains tight-lipped on whether or not he has been jabbed to protect himself against coronavirus.
But either way, he looks sets to be allowed to defend his crown and aim for a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam.
In a leaked email from the WTA to their female tennis stars, it reveals authorities plan to give unvaccinated players an exemption to head to Melbourne.
However, they will face two weeks of hotel quarantine upon arrival and be subject to regular Covid tests.
For fully jabbed stars, though, will have ‘complete freedom of movement’ provided they test negative before and after arrival in Victoria.
The email – shared by New York Times reporter Ben Rothenberg – adds: “Tennis Australia has asked us to wait a few days before speaking about it as they were still working with the government on the details.
“Because Victoria’s vaccination rate will hit 80 per cent at the end of the week and 90 per cent next month, it has been confirmed that conditions for players at the Australian Open will improve significantly.”
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The news comes just a week after Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews suggested unvaccinated players would be denied entry into Australia.
Andrews said: “I don’t think any unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country.
“If they did get a visa, they’d probably have to quarantine for a couple of weeks when no other players will have to.
“(The virus) doesn’t care what your tennis ranking is, or how many Grand Slams you’ve won.
“It’s completely irrelevant. You need to be vaccinated to keep yourself safe and to keep others safe.”
Djokovic was at the centre of a Covid storm early on during the pandemic when he hosted the infamous Adria Tour, complete with nightclub parties, with no social distancing as many players and participants contracted the virus – including himself.
The ace won three of the four Majors in 2021 to tie level with Federer and Nadal before defeat to Daniil Medvedev in the US Open final last month.
He beat Stefanos Tsitsipas in the French Open – and the Greek is another high-profile tennis player opposed to being jabbed.
No3-ranked Tsitsipas revealed he has concerns about the vaccination and would only get it if it became mandatory on the ATP Tour.
Andy Murray, however, believes a vaccine should be mandated for the good of the majority.
