Europe 1 with AFP 3:58 p.m., January 04, 2022

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who has never communicated on his vaccination status, announced on social networks Tuesday that he was leaving for Australia thanks to a "medical exemption" which will allow him to play the Open d Australia (January 17-30), and to seek a record 21st Grand Slam title there.

First victory for Novak Djokovic: the world No. 1, who has never communicated on his vaccination status, announced on Tuesday that he had obtained a "medical exemption" which will allow him to seek a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Open D 'Australia (January 17-30) in Melbourne.

"I had a great time with my loved ones during the holidays and today I'm leaving for Down Under (Australia) thanks to a waiver," the 34-year-old Serb wrote on his Instagram page. to accompany a photo of him at the airport with a bag of snowshoes.

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A waiver after a "rigorous" examination of the request

"I am ready to live and breathe tennis during the weeks of competition to come. Thank you all for your support! Idemooo (Alleeeez, Editor's note) 2022", added Novak Djokovic. In the process, the Australian Federation (TA), organizer of the tournament, explained in a statement that Djokovic had "requested a medical exemption which was granted to him after a rigorous examination (of his request) involving two different and independent groups of medical experts ".

But the body has taken refuge behind medical confidentiality, not to say more.

"Fair and independent protocols have been put in place to assess requests for medical exemptions in order to ensure a safe and enjoyable 2022 Australian Open for everyone," TA chairman Craig Tiley said in the statement. communicated.

"Not a trick for privileged players"

In December, when a rumor wanted that the world No. 1 would be authorized to travel to Australia via an exceptional medical exemption, the Deputy Prime Minister of the state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, had reaffirmed that no exemptions of convenience would be issued. "Anyone who wants to come to the tournament, spectators, players, officials, staff, everyone must be fully vaccinated. The medical exemption is not a trick for the use of privileged players", then insisted James Merlino.

Suddenly, the French Pierre-Hugues Herbert, who refuses to be vaccinated, gave up going to Melbourne.

Novak Djokovic has left him in doubt for months, due to the obligation for players to be vaccinated to enter Australia, on his participation in the first round of the Grand Slam 2022, where he will aim for a record 21st major title. , he who had equaled Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal (20) by winning at Wimbledon last year.

The Australian Open, Djokovic's favorite tournament

However, the Australian Open is the Serbian's favorite tournament: it was in Melbourne that he won his first Grand Slam title (2008), and no one won there as much as him (nine victories). "I do not know if I will go to Australia, I do not know what is happening. The situation is currently not good," he told the Serbian daily Blic in October 2021, refusing to say whether he was vaccinated or not. "It's a private matter." After new evasive statements about his coming to Australia, his unjustified withdrawal for the ATP Cup, a few days before this team tournament organized in Sydney from January 1 to 9, had further thickened the doubt about his participation in the Open from Australia.

The world No. 1 spoke in April 2020 against compulsory vaccination, then considered to allow the resumption of tournaments.

"Personally, I am not for vaccines. I would not like someone forcing me to be vaccinated to travel", then said "Nole".

Djokovic infected with Covid-19 in summer 2020

The Serbian was criticized a few weeks later for having organized in early June 2020 in the Balkans the Adria Tour, a traveling charity tournament respecting the health rules in force in the region but with disregard of any precaution (full stadium without wearing a mask, hugs between players on the court, communal dinners and nightclub outings).

At the end of the tournament, Djokovic had tested positive for Covid-19, just like his compatriot Viktor Troicki, the Croatian Borna Coric and the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov.

"I am deeply sorry that our tournament could have caused such damage," Djokovic apologized at the time.

"We were wrong, it was too early" to organize such a tournament, he admitted.