The state of Victoria, whose capital Melbourne will host the Australian Open in January, on Wednesday ruled out granting a special exemption to unvaccinated players to participate in the tournament, which could exclude the competition from the tournament. defending champion and world number 1 Novak Djokovic.
"We exclude unvaccinated people from pubs, cafes, restaurants and the MCG [Melbourne's main cricket stadium] and all kinds of other events," Victoria Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said. .
We will not ask for an exemption.
Therefore, the issue is fundamentally resolved ”.
This reminder from local authorities is a new episode in the soap opera that shakes up world tennis, less than two months before the Australian Open, the first grand slam tournament of the year (January 17 to 30).
An email from the WTA, organizer of the women's professional tour, which leaked earlier this week, suggested that players who had not been vaccinated against the coronavirus could participate in the tournament provided they respect a 14-day quarantine.
About 60% of players vaccinated
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison then said unvaccinated players would be allowed to enter the country if they received an exemption, which the host state, Victoria, was to apply for on their behalf.
But the state of Victoria has therefore ruled out this possibility.
It is in fact the Australian federal government that controls the country's borders and issues entry visas, but during the pandemic, state governments decided on their own entry conditions (quarantine, compulsory vaccination).
According to the ATP, in charge of the men's professional circuit, and the WTA, contacted by AFP, approximately 65% of players and more than 60% of female players are vaccinated.
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Novak Djokovic
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Anti-covid vaccine
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