D.he 20-time Grand Slam tournament winner Novak Djokovic wants to compete at the Australian Open with a special permit. The world number one announced this on Tuesday. “Happy New Year everyone,” the 34-year-old Serb wrote on Instagram: “I spent a fantastic time with my loved ones during the break and today I’m traveling down under with a special permit. Let’s go 2022 !! “.
Almost two weeks before the start of the first Grand Slam tournament of the tennis season, the months of speculation about the participation of the top star come to an end. The Australian Open in Melbourne starts on January 17th. Only players who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or who have received a medical exemption are allowed to take part.
The organizers announced that the exemption had been granted after a strict review, in which two independent expert panels were involved. Fair and strict rules have been put in place for medical exemption applications to make the Australian Open “safe and enjoyable for everyone,” said tournament director Craig Tiley. The central point is that the decisions were made by independent experts.
The nine-time Melbourne winner Djokovic had always left his vaccination status open. At short notice, he had decided not to start his previously announced start in the currently running ATP Cup – the team event that serves as preparation.
With his announcement, the top star now raises new questions: Why is he an exception? Why do the organizers give him the chance to defend his title – apparently also as a possibly unvaccinated person? “We’d love to see Novak here, but he knows he has to be vaccinated to play,” tournament director Craig Tiley said back in November.
Djokovic will try in Melbourne to win the Australian Open for the tenth time. With his 21st Grand Slam title, he would become the sole record holder. He currently shares the record with his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The Swiss Federer is still paused due to his knee problems, the Spaniard Nadal wants to compete in the Australian Open shortly before Christmas after a positive corona test. Hamburg’s Alexander Zverev has also set himself the goal of winning the first sporting tennis highlight of the season.