Australian Open 2022: Novak Djokovic ‘probably’ won’t compete due to COVID-19 vaccination protocol, father says

It is likely that Novak Djokovic will not be able to defend the Australian Open title. Any player planning to compete at the 2022 Australian Open, which begins on January 17, must be vaccinated against COVID-19. Due to those regulations, Novak Djokovic’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, said that his son will probably not attend the tournament.

Srdjan Djokovic spoke to Serb TV about the upcoming event, suggesting that unless vaccine restrictions change, he will not see his son compete.

“With these conditions and blackmail, he probably won’t [play]. I will not do that. And he’s my son, so you decide for yourself,” said Srdjan Djokovic, according to BBC Sport. “… As far as vaccines and non-vaccines are concerned, it’s each of us individually whether we are vaccinated or not… No one has the right to intrude on a close relationship. our.”

Srdjan Djokovic added that he does not know if Novak Djokovic is vaccinated and even if he did, he would not share that information with the public.

After the recent ATP Finals, the 34-year-old did not give a clear answer as to whether he will compete in the first Grand Slam of 2022.

“We’ll see. We’ll have to wait and see. I haven’t talked to them yet [Australian Open organizers], honestly. I was just waiting to see what the news would be like and now I know that we’ll just have to wait and see,” said Djokovic, according to Eurosport.

BBC Sport reports that most players are expected to be vaccinated before the tournament begins. Australian Open director Craig Tiley says 85 per cent of professional players are vaccinated and expects that number to rise to “between 90 and 95 per cent” in the next two months. Fans and staff at the event were also asked to be vaccinated.

Djokovic has the most Australian Open wins with nine of his 20 Grand Slam wins. He has won most of the Grand Slam titles between the men with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.