MELBOURNE, Australia — World number one
Novak Djokovic
said Tuesday that he was heading to the Australian Open to defend his title
after being granted a medical exemption to play.
اضافة اعلان
All participants at the opening Grand Slam of the year,
which starts on January 17, need to be vaccinated against
COVID-19 or have the
exemption, which is assessed by an independent panel of experts.
The Serb has repeatedly refused to confirm if he has been
inoculated, with his participation at Melbourne Park the subject of
intense speculation after he pulled out of the ongoing
ATP Cup in Sydney.
"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 nine-time Australian Open winner, who beat
Daniil Medvedev in last year's final, said on Instagram.
His post was accompanied by a picture of the 34-year-old at
an airport, looking relaxed, with his bags on a trolley.
"Djokovic applied for a medical exemption which was
granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent
panels of medical experts," Tennis Australia said in a statement.
'Genuine reason'
Tournament director
Craig Tiley last week confirmed a number
of players had been granted exemptions, without naming Djokovic, while
explaining the process involved.
"There are two medical panels that assess any
application, and they assess it in a blind way. They don't know who the
applicant is," he told reporters.
"Against the ATAGI (Australian Technical Advisory Group
on Immunization) guidelines, an exemption gets granted or not. The reason for
granting that exemption remains private, between the panel and the
applicant."
He said on Tuesday there had to have been a "genuine
reason" to grant an exemption.
"Central to this process was that the decisions were
made by independent medical experts and that every applicant was given due
consideration," he said.
Djokovic has previously expressed his opposition to the
COVID-19 vaccine and his father Srdjan said in late November that his son would probably
not play in Melbourne, accusing the organizers of "blackmail".
Government officials in Victoria state, which hosts the
Australian Open, had been adamant for months that only vaccinated players would
be able to play the tournament.
"They're the rules. Medical exemptions are just that —
it's not a loophole for privileged tennis players," the state's Deputy
Premier
James Merlino said recently.
Confirmation that the Serbian superstar is en route sets the
scene for a showdown with arch-rival
Rafael Nadal, with both gunning for a
record 21st Grand Slam title.
The Spanish superstar is already in Melbourne preparing
after recovering from the coronavirus.
Fellow 20-time Grand Slam winner
Roger Federer is sidelined
by injury and not travelling to Australia.
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