Djokovic will defend Australian Open title after exemption from vaccination

Novak Djokovic ended hypothesis over his Australian Open title defence by saying on Tuesday that he would compete on the season’s opening Grand Slam occasion after receiving a medical exemption from getting vaccinated towards Covid-19.

The world primary, who had declined to disclose his vaccination standing, mentioned beforehand that he was uncertain whether or not he would compete on the January 17-30 match in Melbourne resulting from issues over Australia’s quarantine guidelines.
“I’ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022,” the Serbian mentioned on Instagram.
Organisers of the Australian Open had stipulated that every one members have to be vaccinated towards the coronavirus or have a medical exemption granted by an unbiased panel of specialists.
Tennis Australia mentioned final month the panel would encompass docs from the fields of immunology, infectious illness and basic apply and that the transfer was agreed along side the Victoria Department of Health.
Applicants that move an preliminary stage will probably be topic to a second assessment carried out by a government-appointed panel earlier than the applying is submitted to the Australian Immunisation Register.

Djokovic’s father Srdjan had informed a Serbian tv channel that his son would in all probability pull out of the foremost, saying Tennis Australia’s stance on obligatory jabs was tantamount to “blackmail”.
Djokovic pulled out of the Serbia crew for the ATP Cup in Sydney to boost additional doubts over his participation within the 12 months’s first Grand Slam.
“I’m ready to live and breathe tennis in the next few weeks of competition. Thanks everyone for the support,” Djokovic added in his publish, which was accompanied by an image of him in an airport.
He heads to Australia having educated in Marbella, Spain over the previous couple of days.
Tennis Australia didn’t instantly reply to a Reuters request for remark.
Djokovic has received a report 9 Australian Open titles, together with the final three, and is in a three-way tie on 20 majors with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal within the all-time checklist.