VAXXING TIMES FOR DJOKOVIC Novak ready to snub A us s ie m a jo r over covid rules

BY TONY BANKS

NOVAK DJOKOVIC has threatened to pull out of the Australian Open in January after officials insisted that unvaccinated players are unlikely to be allowed into the country.

The nine-time Australian Open champion says he is prepared to miss out on the chance to defend his Melbourne title and recordbreaking 21st Grand Slam because he refuses to release his vaccination status.

Djokovic (below) said: “I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne. I will not reveal my status, whether I have been vaccinated or not.

“It is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.

“People go too far in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person. Whatever you say, ‘Yes, no, maybe, I am thinking about it’, they will take advantage.”

The state of Victoria – scheduled to host the first Grand Slam of 2022 – has introduced a vaccination mandate for professional athletes as it battles a resurgence of Covid cases.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said: “I don’t think an unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country and, if they did, they’d probably have to quarantine for a couple of weeks. The virus doesn’t care what your ranking is, or how many Grand Slams you’ve won. It’s irrelevant. You need to be vaccinated to keep yourself safe and to keep others safe.”

In the summer, Djokovic said he hoped vaccination would not be mandatory, insisting it should come down to freedom of choice.

The world No.1 had to apologise after staging a charity event in Serbia in 2020 with no social distancing after which several players, including Djokovic, tested positive.

Australian prime minister Scott Morrison announced on Friday that international travel to and from the country would resume from November 1 for citizens and permanent residents.

But he emphasised “no decision to allow other visaholders” had yet been made.

Tennis Australia said in May the tournament would proceed in January 2022.

Last week Andy Murray said players should get vaccinated, adding: “I support vaccination. I hope more players get it done.”