The decision emphasizes the world’s number one, Novak Djokovic, who refuses to say whether or not it is vaccinated.
Le Monde with AFP
All players playing the Australian Open, scheduled for January in Melbourne, will have to be vaccinated against COVID-19, confirmed Saturday, November 20, the head of the Craig Tile tournament, thus accentuating pressure on the number one worldwide , the Serb Novak Djokovic, nine times titled to Melbourne and who refuses to say if it is vaccinated or not.
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam tournament of the year, will be held from 17 to 30 January in Melbourne. The second city of Australia comes out barely from more than two hundred and sixty days of cumulative containment, making it one of the world’s longest cities under bell.
Last month, the state of Victoria, whose capital is Melbourne, had already excluded to grant a special exemption to unvaccinated players so that they can participate in the tournament.
“There are a lot of speculation on vaccination and to be quite clear when the Prime Minister [of the State of Victoria] has announced that all those present on the site had to be vaccinated, we played players, “said Craig Tile at the Channel Nine TV channel. “All players understand it, our sponsors will have to be vaccinated, all staff working on the Australian Open will have to be vaccinated,” he insisted.
“We would like to see Novak here”
Novak Djokovic, who could aim at Melbourne a historic e title in Grand Slam, “said he considered that as a private affair, continued Craig Tuley. We would like to see Novak here . He knows he will have to be vaccinated to play here “.
For the 2021 edition of the Australian Open, scheduled in February instead of January, players and their coaches had to observe about two weeks in hotels. The spectator gauge had been set at 30,000 per day, 50% of the capacity, and during the tournament, a five-day confinement had been decreed in the state of Victoria.
The organizers announced that this time the stands can be full, the vaccination rate in the Victoria State approaching 90%.
Outside Djokovic, Craig Tile confirmed Rafael Nadal’s participation, also in search of a Grand Salem . At the ladies, the world number A Ashleigh Barty will try to win at home, facing the holder of the title Naomi Osaka who confirmed his presence, just like Serena Williams which aims for a 24 e