Brisbane Jan 5 (BUS): Novak Djokovic will get a chance to defend his Australian Open title after being granted medical exemption to travel to Melbourne, ending months of uncertainty over his participation due to strict COVID-19 vaccination requirements in place. The competition.
Top-ranked Djokovic wrote on Instagram on Tuesday that he has an “exempt permission”.
Djokovic, who is seeking a record 21st Grand Slam singles, has consistently refused to reveal whether he has been vaccinated against the coronavirus, according to the Associated Press.
The Victorian State Government has made a decision that all players, staff and fans attending the Australian Open must be fully vaccinated unless there is genuine reason to grant an exemption.
Australian Open organizers quickly responded with a statement confirming that Djokovic had been allowed to compete in the tournament, which kicks off on January 17, and was on his way to Australia. He had earlier withdrew from Serbia’s ATP Cup team, which started last weekend in Sydney.
“Djokovic applied for a medical exemption, which was granted after a rigorous review process that included two independent teams of medical experts,” the statement read. “One of these was the Independent Medical Exemption Review Committee appointed by the Victorian Department of Health. They evaluated all applications to see if they met the Australian Technical Advisory Group guidelines on vaccination.”
Tennis Australia said the process included reviewing personal information to ensure the privacy of all applicants, while removing details of names, ages and nationalities. This means that Djokovic did not have to declare his exemption.
“Fair and independent protocols have been put in place for evaluating medical exemption applications that will enable us to ensure that the 2022 Australian Open is safe and enjoyable for all,” said Australian Open director Craig Tilley.
Tiley said Wednesday that 26 players or support staff have submitted anonymous requests for medical exemption, despite only “a handful” being awarded. He said Djokovic was not treated differently than anyone else.
“75 to 80% of applicants for medical exemption, it has not been granted,” Tilly told Melbourne Radio 3AW. Djokovic “has gone through this process and it is a completely legitimate application and process.”
Victoria’s deputy prime minister James Merlino insisted last month that medical exceptions would not be “the loophole for outstanding tennis players” and would only be possible in “exceptional circumstances if you have an acute medical condition”.
“No one is receiving or will receive special treatment because of who they are or what they have achieved professionally,” Gala Bolford, the state’s acting sports secretary, said on Wednesday.
“A lot of people in Victorian society will find this a disappointing outcome, but the process is the process,” Bulford said. No one received special treatment. The process is incredibly powerful.”
The decision is widely debated in a city where most people endured months of strict lockdown and harsh travel restrictions at the height of the pandemic.
Reactions on social media quickly turned into questions about the reasons for Djokovic’s release, and what quarantine conditions he will have to fulfill.
It will avoid hotel quarantine on arrival, as visitors to Australia with medical exemptions from vaccination will be treated like fully vaccinated people.
Reasons for exemptions can include an acute medical condition, a serious adverse reaction to a previous dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, or evidence of COVID-19 infection within the previous six months.
Tilley said he was not aware of the reasons for Djokovic’s exemption, adding: “The only way we can have access to this information is if the individual decides to share it.”
But he said it would be “helpful” if Djokovic chose to explain.
“I would encourage him to talk to the community about it,” Tilly said. “We’ve been through a very difficult period over the past two years, and we would appreciate some of the answers to that.”
Last year, all foreign players had to spend two weeks in hotel quarantine ahead of the Australian Open, leading to the first major tournament of the year returning from its usual start in mid-January. There were also strict restrictions on crowd numbers, and days when fans were not allowed into Melbourne Park as coronavirus cases rose. There is no cap on crowd numbers for the 2022 tournament and no strict hotel quarantine for players, although proof of dual vaccination for COVID-19 is a requirement for entry and players will be tested daily.
The 34-year-old has won nine of his 20 major titles at the Australian Open. He shares the men’s record in most majors with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Djokovic has not played at the Tour level since the Davis Cup Finals in early December, and he recently practiced coaching in Spain. His social media posts announcing his plans to travel to Australia were accompanied by a picture of Djokovic leaning on a tennis bag at an airport.