Djokovic won’t be able to enter Australia if he’s not vaccinated, Immigration Minister says
Novak Djokovic will not be allowed to enter Australia to compete in the Australian Open unless he is fully vaccinated, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says.
Key points:
- Immigration Minister Alex Hawke says everyone who comes to Australia will have to be double-vaccinated
- Novak Djokovic is refusing to say if he has been vaccinated
- Djokovic has won nine Australian Opens, including the last three
Djokovic has been refusing to say if he is vaccinated or not, and on Tuesday he conceded he did not know if he would be making the journey to Australia.
“Things being as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne,” Djokovic said.
“I will not reveal my status, whether I have been vaccinated or not. It is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.
“People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person. Whatever you say, ‘yes’, ‘no’, ‘maybe’, ‘I am thinking about it’, they will take advantage.”
On Wednesday morning Mr Hawke said Australia’s policy for incoming arrivals would also apply to international athletes.
“Our health advice is that when we open the borders everyone that comes to Australia will have to be double-vaccinated,” Mr Hawke said.
Djokovic has won the Australian Open a record nine times, including the last three times in a row.
He is currently tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 grand slam titles, and is one away from becoming the most decorated male player of all time.
On Tuesday, Djokovic suggested he would like to play in Melbourne but was waiting for more information on the regulations.
“Of course I want to go, Australia is my most successful grand slam tournament. I want to compete. I love this sport and I am still motivated,” Djokovic said.
“My manager, who is in contact with the Australian Tennis Federation, tells me they are trying to improve the conditions for everyone, both for those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.”
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews earlier said it was unlikely unvaccinated athletes would be allowed into the country.
“I don’t think an unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country,” he said on Tuesday.
“And if they did get a visa they’d probably have to quarantine for a couple of weeks.”