(Melbourne) Craig Tiley, who heads the Australian Open, confirmed on Saturday that everyone attending the event will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including players.
This continues to question the status of defending champion Novak Djokovic.
The Serb, who refuses to say if he is vaccinated, would try to deserve a 21e major singles title, which would be a record. Nine of his triumphs came in Melbourne Park.
The tournament is scheduled for January 17-30. The Victoria state government has previously said that only those vaccinated will enter the tournament site.
“Everyone on site, all fans, all staff and all athletes will need to be vaccinated,” Tiley said. There has been a lot of speculation about Novak’s position, he said it is private in nature.
We would love to see Novak here, but he knows he needs to be vaccinated. He always said that our tournament gives him the wind in his sails.
Craig Tiley, director of the Australian Open
PHOTO DAVID GRAY, AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE ARCHIVES
Australian Open director Craig Tiley
Tiley said Rafael Nadal and Daniil Medvedev, Djokovic’s striker in New York this year, plan to play in Melbourne.
Roger Federer, who continues to recover from right knee surgery, has already announced that he will not be there.
He, Nadal and Djokovic are tied with 20 major singles titles.
Australia’s Ashleigh Barty will try to win again at home and defending champion Naomi Osaka has also confirmed her presence.
The Rod Laver Arena will regain its capacity of around 15,000 people, and the other grounds will also be able to fill out.