Australian Open chief’s stern warning to Novak Djokovic: No vaccine, no play

The Australian authorities have declared that
only players who have been fully vaccinated will be eligible to participate in
the upcoming Australian Open. Tennis Australia’s Chief Executive Officer Craig
Tiley is hopeful for Novak Djokovic’s – the men’s world No. 1 – participation.

Last game will be in Chennai: MS Dhoni sheds light on IPL future

Craig told Australian TV station Channel 9’s The
Today Show, “It’s been made
very clear when the Premier announced several weeks ago that in order to
participate at the Australian Open, to come into Victoria, you’ll need to be
fully vaccinated,”

Tiley added, “Immediately, we communicated that to the playing group.
It is the one direction that you take that you can ensure everyone’s safety,”

Shaheen Afridi hurls ball back at Bangla batsman after being hit for six | Watch

Preparations
for the competition that is set to take place in the 2022 season are already
underway in Melbourne. The Australian Open will be the first grand slam of the
upcoming season.

Craig Tiley
said, “All the playing group understands it. Our patrons will need to be
vaccinated, all the staff working the Australian Open need to be vaccinated.
But when we’re in a state where there’s more than 90% of the population fully
vaccinated … it’s the right thing to do.”

India vs New Zeland, 3rd T20I: Rohit Sharma and co. eye clean sweep

The 34-year-old
Serbian world No. 1 has not revealed his vaccination status. He has won the Australian
Open men’s singles title a record nine times and it will be a big loss if the player
does not participate.

Novak Djokovic,
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal have all won 20 major singles titles each.

Speaking
about the Serbian’s vaccination status Craig Tiley said, “We’re expecting
Novak to come. The good news is that most of the tennis players, both on the
men and the women’s side, are fully vaccinated.”

Sent the wrong message: Cricket Australia regrets not sacking Tim Paine earlier

Tennis Australia’s Chief Executive Officer added, “Novak, as he’s previously said, that’s a
private issue for him … He’s always said that the Australian Open is the
event that puts the wind in his sails, so I hope we get to see Novak.”

No limitation
will be placed on the crowd capacity and the tournament will take place between
January 17 and January 30, 2022.