Non-vaccinated tennis professionals may now be allowed into the Australian Open next year. However, the conditions will be strict: the Australian media on Monday quoted a leak from the National Association of Tennis Australia to the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA). There should be weeks of severe hotel isolation. Vaccinated specialists, on the other hand, only need a corona test before departure and one within 24 hours of arrival. After that, they can move freely.
However, the Minister of Sports of the State of Victoria, Melbourne, insisted shortly afterwards that a final decision had not yet been made as to whether unvaccinated participants should be allowed to enter the country. Discussions on this were ongoing with the Australian Government. “We expect this to be decided in the next few weeks only,” says Martin Bagula.
At the start of the new season, leading Australian politicians have recently repeatedly stressed that those who are not vaccinated are unlikely to be allowed to participate in the sporting climax of the tennis tour. The competition is scheduled to take place from January 17 to 30. “I do not believe an unvaccinated tennis player will get a visa to go to this country,” Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said a few days ago.
In particular, world number one Novak Djokovic is responsible for the debate over the corona vaccine in tennis. The 34-year-old Serb has recovered from a corona infection, but did not want to disclose whether he was vaccinated against the virus. This is a personal matter, Djokovic stressed in an interview.
The current champion is looking for records: the winner of 20 Grand Slam tournaments nine times in Melbourne, another win in a good three months would make him the only record holder in four more important matches than Swiss Roger Federer and Spaniard Rafael Nadal. “Of course I want to go there,” he said.
“Wannabe pop culture fanatic. Zombie advocate. Entrepreneur. Internet evangelist. Alcohol fanatic. Typical travel buff.”
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