Bitter reality facing Djokovic as AO hopes fade

3 years ago 442

Tennis fable Todd Woodbridge says Novak Djokovic is going to person to uncover his vaccination presumption if helium wants to vie astatine this summer's Australian Open.

Djokovic said yesterday he doesn't cognize if helium question to Melbourne for January's tournament, refusing to disclose whether oregon not he's been vaccinated against COVID-19.

"I volition not uncover my status, whether I person been vaccinated oregon not, it is simply a backstage substance and an inappropriate inquiry," helium said.

Djokovic would beryllium aiming for a 4th consecutive triumph astatine Melbourne Park, and a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates winning lucifer constituent to decision Alexander Zverev of Germany astatine the US Open. (Getty)

"The information that helium says he's not going to archer america whether he's had it oregon not, astir apt means helium inactive hasn't had the vaccination," Woodbridge told Radio 2GB's Wide World of Sports.

"It's becoming progressively apt that if you don't person it, it's going to beryllium precise hard to get here.

"That's going to travel down to what the governments say."

Djokovic is coming disconnected a play wherever helium came wrong a lucifer of the calendar twelvemonth Grand Slam, falling lone to Daniil Medvedev successful the last of the US Open.

Having won the Australian Open 9 times, he'll commencement a dense favourite successful January if helium competes.

Australian tennis fable Todd Woodbridge. (Getty)

"Novak is waiting until the 11th hr to marque that decision, I can't ideate him not wanting to beryllium here, not wanting to play successful what has been his astir palmy tournament," Woodbridge explained.

"That hourglass is ticking, and there's not a batch left, he's going to person to marque that telephone 1 mode oregon the other, and if helium has it, he's going to person to archer us."

"Holding it adjacent to your thorax isn't going to get the result solved for him"

Victorian premier Dan Andrews said yesterday there'd beryllium nary peculiar arrangements for unvaccinated athletes to vie astatine large events, specified arsenic the Australian Open oregon the Australian Grand Prix successful April.

The comments seemingly mean it volition beryllium improbable Djokovic volition beryllium allowed to question to Melbourne if he's not vaccinated.

"(The virus) doesn't attraction what your tennis ranking is, oregon however galore Grand Slams you've won," helium said.

"It's wholly irrelevant. You request to beryllium vaccinated to support yourself harmless and to support others safe.

"I don't deliberation an unvaccinated tennis subordinate is going to get a visa to travel into this state and if they did get a visa they'd astir apt person to quarantine for a mates of weeks," helium added.

"I don't deliberation that the idiosyncratic you indicated (Djokovic) oregon immoderate different tennis player, let's not personalise it ... oregon golfer oregon Formula One operator volition adjacent get a visa to get here."

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