The Australian government’s recent announcement of health restrictions has placed doubt on Novak Djokovic’s participation in the first Grand Slam of 2022.
Unlike what was previously stated, it appears that unvaccinated players will be allowed to enter the nation. But would be subjected to a two-week quarantine period.
World number one has admitted that his attendance at the Australian Open is far from definite. Declining to say if he has got the COVID-19 vaccine.
Since the final of the US Open, which he obviously lost to Daniil Medvedev. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has not played an official match.
That defeat robbed him the chance to win the ‘Calendar Grand Slam’ and leapfrog Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, who have been rivals for as long as he can remember.
The 34-year-old Serbian will make his comeback in Paris-Bercy. Which he will use as a warm-up for the ATP Finals and Davis Cup finals.
Tracy Austin, speaking on the Tennis Channel recently, stated that Nole’s absence in Melbourne would not surprise her.
Tracy Austin speaks out about Novak Djokovic
“He’s (Novak Djokovic) going for 21, the tiebreaking 21, but I guess not getting the vaccination could be more important,” Tracy Austin said in a recent conversation with Tennis Channel.
Will @DjokerNole play the Australian Open? ?#TCLive pic.twitter.com/8ZisfmWSsh
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) October 20, 2021
Throughout the pandemic, World No. 1 has been tight-lipped about his immunization status. Causing many to believe he has yet to receive the vaccine, including two-time US Open champion Tracy Austin.
“For me? I don’t know (if we will see Novak Djokovic at the 2022 Australian Open),” Tracy Austin added.
“I mean you’ve got to get the jab to go over there apparently and he says he doesn’t want to tell us whether he’s gotten the jab.
“And it seems like to me, if you’re not telling us then he probably hasn’t.”
Quarantine would be more difficult to digest for unvaccinated players, according to the former World No. 1.
“He’s (Novak Djokovic) spoken out adamantly that he does not want to get vaccinated,” Austin said.
“I guess you would still have the opportunity to go over there and quarantine.
“I mean that’s gonna be very tough this year because 2021 everyone was in quarantine,
“But now the players that have gotten vaccinated wouldn’t have to spend time there.”
This season, world No. 1 Novak Djokovic sailed through Grand Slam competitions with ease.
The Serbian ace won the season’s first three Majors. He appeared to be on track to complete the Calendar Slam in the season’s last Grand Slam.
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