InsertedOctober 12, 2022, 11:19 am
TennisUnvaccinated, Djokovic would still like to play in the Australian Open
The Serbian, banned from Australian territory for three years, has not given up hope of going to Melbourne according to Craig Tiley, the tournament boss.
Novak Djokovic would like to go to Melbourne to play the Australian Open.
IMAGO / Nir Keidar
Novak Djokovic “would love” to be able to play the next Australian Open in January, Grand Slam tournament director Craig Tiley said Wednesday, urging the player and the country’s authorities to work towards a solution. The Serb, who is not vaccinated against Covid-19, was expelled from Australia on the eve of the 2022 edition, last January, after a political and legal scam.
“I spent some time with Novak at the Laver Cup. We talked in general. He said he obviously would like to go back to Australia, but he knows it will ultimately be a federal government decision, ”Tiley told The Age newspaper.
When it comes to the organizers of the Australian Open, “what we are saying at this point is that it is up to Novak and the federal government to solve the problem.” “From then on, we will respect any instructions,” he added.
A favorable change of political direction?
To date, the Serbian with 21 Grand Slam titles (including nine in Melbourne) remains banned from the country for three years. But a window of opportunity could exist with the change of government, led by Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to replace Conservative Scott Morrison.
This season, Djokovic won Wimbledon again. But he was still forced to give up the Australian Open and the US Open due to his unvaccinated status.
In his interview with The Age, Craig Tiley also addressed the issue of sanctions linked to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He therefore ensured that Russian and Belarusian players would be “eligible” if the tournament were to be played today, but on an individual basis, that is, without representing their country.
(AFP)
