Novak Djokovic mystery Australian Open boss Craig Tiley can’t solve

Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic still hasn’t revealed his vaccination status or if he will compete in Melbourne next month.

There is still no clarity on whether Novak Djokovic will try to win a 10th Australian Open title in Melbourne next month. Picture: Getty Images

Mystery continues to surround nine-time champion Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open intentions as his outspoken father again hinted his son may not be vaccinated.

Djokovic is entered in the Melbourne Park event but not even tournament director Craig Tiley knows whether he will make the trip after a conversation as recently as last weekend.

A decision will soon be known, given chartered flights packed with tennis stars will begin arriving in Sydney and Melbourne on December 28 – and the world No.1 is due to represent Serbia in the ATP Cup from January 1.

Djokovic will move into the outright lead for grand slam titles if he claims a 10th Australian Open and 21st overall, breaking a deadlock with great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

But he has refused to publicly reveal whether he is vaccinated or if he planned to compete in Melbourne and discussed wanting the “freedom to choose” what he puts in his body.

The 34-year-old can play in the Australian Open only if he is fully vaccinated or receives a medical exemption, which must go through a multi-step independent review process.

Australian Open boss Craig Tiley said it would be ‘unfortunate’ if Novak Djokovic didn’t play in Melbourne because of the vaccination mandate. Picture: AFP

“It’s his choice, on his medical condition, to keep it personal and private, like all of us would do with any condition we may or may not have,” Tiley said.

“We are not going to force him or ask him to disclose that.

“Everyone needs to know that the condition of entry would be those two requirements – and it’s rigorous. It’s not that straightforward.”

Tiley has dealt mostly with Djokovic’s team rather than the tennis legend but hasn’t asked for “specifics” about his vaccination status and is yet to receive a strong indication on whether he will play.

“We want to have the best players here, so I’d love to have Novak at the event,” he said.

“We always want to have that – it doesn’t matter who it is. But there are conditions of entry, so if he meets those conditions, great, (but) if he doesn’t, it’s unfortunate.

“These are not the same conditions around the rest of the world, although I think more countries are moving to these conditions.

It is still unclear whether Novak Djokovic and his team plan to be in Melbourne for the Australian Open. Picture: AFP

“It’s going to be extremely difficult for a tennis player, in 2022, to travel around the world and not have, in each country separately, an exemption, or be vaccinated, but that’s ultimately up to them.”

Djokovic’s father Srdjan cast doubt while speaking to K1 Televizija in Serbia this week about whether his son would play in Australia.

“They have to decide whether they will let Novak in,” Srdjan said.

“If they decide (to not let Novak play), they have to stand behind their decision. He has won the Australian Open nine times, he now wants to play – but they have to permit him to play.

“Novak will do what he thinks is the best for him; nobody will impose an opinion on him.

“What to do if he ends up not going (to the Australian Open)? We will wait for Roland Garros and his (21st) grand slam title.”

Srdjan previously likened the vaccine mandate to “blackmail”.