(Monaco) “If Djokovic is in good standing with the sanitary conditions required by the (French) government, we will be delighted to welcome him”, announced Zeljko Franulovic, director of the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 Tennis Tournament on Wednesday, scheduled April 9-17.
Posted at 11:21 a.m.
Asked whether Novak Djokovic, current world No.1, would play in the next Monte-Carlo tournament, Zeljko Franulovic, its director, specified that the Serb would have to be “in good standing” for this.
“To enter France, the first rule is to be vaccinated,” he continued on the sidelines of the presentation of the tournament on Wednesday in a Monegasque hotel.
“The ATP protocol, he added, also offers the possibility of providing a certificate of contamination with COVID-19 one month before the start of the competition. From what I know, Djokovic is currently unvaccinated. As soon as he is in order, we will welcome him with open arms. »
“We spoke with all the players, continued Franulovic. All are vaccinated, except him for the moment. You can’t put yourself in his shoes to know what he wants to do. His participation will depend on him. »
The 1970 Roland-Garros finalist would like to be able to “say that Djokovic will be there 100%”. “But it’s his decision,” he said. It’s easy to say that the tournament is stronger than a player. But we would like Novak to be there. He likes the tournament and we like him. That said, I don’t think the tournament would suffer without him. Because it will be explained. »
He sees “all the players in the world’s top 10 present, except Roger Federer, still injured, and on whom, barring a miracle, we cannot count”.
The final list of registered players for the tournament, which is expected to host 135,000 people, will close on March 14 and the draw for the final draw will take place on April 8.
As for Djokovic, he plans to return to competition in Dubai from February 21 to 26. “This is very good news, said ATP president Andrea Gaudenzi, also during the presentation of the Monte-Carlo tournament. We want him fit and happy to play tennis again. It is our world N.1. »
The Monte-Carlo Country Club, where the Monte-Carlo Masters 1000 tournament takes place, is actually located in the French town of Roquebrune-Cap Martin, on the north-eastern edge of the Principality.