Australian Open 2022 vaccination policy: Will Novak Djokovic play in Melbourne?

Players have said they won’t quarantine for 14 days again to play at the Aus Open. So, given Victoria’s stance on vaccinations, could the tournament move away from Melbourne?

Novak Djokovic’s anti-vaccination stance could force him to miss the Australian Open. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Novak Djokovic has won so many epic battles at the Australian Open but he’s about to come up against his hardest opponent yet.

And it’s a fight the world No.1 is unlikely to win.

Djokovic’s anti-vaccination stance is set to be put to the ultimate test with the Victorian Government almost certain to mandate that only fully vaccinated players can play in January’s grand slam tournament.

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For Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley this is his worst nightmare and one he had been fearing for months. He has been in discussions with the government about the potential ramifications for his tournament should there be a hard and fast mandate rule.

There are several vaccine-hesitant players led by Djokovic and including the two men who sit behind him in the world rankings Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Top 10 women players Elina Svitolina and Aryna Sabalenka have both said they are also worried about vaccines.

Novak Djokovic’s anti-vaccination stance could force him to miss the Australian Open. Picture: William West/AFP

To this point both the ATP men’s tour and the women’s WTA have stayed away from calling for mandatory vaccines but have both strongly encouraged players to be inoculated.

Last month the ATP estimated 50 per cent of its players were vaccinated while the WTA estimated around 60 per cent with world No.1 Ash Barty one of those.

Djojokovic has remained guarded about his vaccination status, never confirming whether he had had a jab.

“I feel like that should always be a personal decision, whether you want to get vaccinated or not. So I’m supportive of that,” Djokovic previously stated. “So whether someone wants to get a vaccine or not, that’s completely up to them. I hope that it stays that way.“

In April, 2020, Djokovic stated: “Personally I’m opposed to vaccination, and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel.”

Novak Djokovic and Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Tiley was part of meetings to plan for Covid-safe sport along with AFL boss Gillon McLachlan and the MCG’s Stuart Fox where it was quickly agreed that jabs should be mandatory for public-facing staff and spectators.

What it meant for participants was a matter of great debate before Victorian Premier Dan Andrews made it obvious on Friday where that discussion was headed when he announced that 1.25 million “authorised workers” had to have two COVID-19 shots by the end of November.

Included in that were professional athletes which immediately impacted the AFL whose players would now most likely be required to be vaccinated to begin pre-season training over the next couple of months.

While the national cabinet and the Commonwealth will set rules for vaccinated and unvaccinated international arrivals, the specific requirements for events like the Ashes Tour and Australian Open will fall to each state’s public health officers.

Novak Djokovic will be shooting for his 10th Australian Open and 21st grand slam title if he plays in Melbourne in January. Picture: David Gray/AFP

Given Victoria’s hardline stance, Tiley’s hopes of a quarantine avenue for participation in the tournament for vaccine-hesitant players seems unlikely.

The players have already said they won’t quarantine for 14 days like they did before this year’s Open, which was delayed three weeks because of a Covid outbreak, beginning on February 8.

Could the Open be shifted to a more “friendly” state with looser requirements?

That would be a dramatic move but Tiley knows how important next year‘s event is given what Djokovic is about to do.

The 34-year-old will be shooting for a 10th Australian Open crown — he has won the past three — and his 21st career grand slam title which would elevate him past Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Tiley is desperate for that historic moment to happen in January but it seems he needs a change of heart from someone and it won‘t be the Premier.