Not too much to ask: Novak Djokovic cops a Premier serve

Novak Djokovic’s dream of a ­record 21st grand slam has copped a serve from Daniel Andrews, who says it’s ‘not too much to ask’ for only double-jabbed stars to play.

Nine-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic. Picture: AFP

Novak Djokovic’s dream of a ­record 21st grand slam has copped a serve from Daniel Andrews, who said it was “not too much to ask” for only double-jabbed tennis stars to play in the 2022 Australian Open.

The Victorian Premier hardened his position on Monday against unvaccinated players, even if they agreed to do two weeks of hotel quarantine, saying he believed all international sports stars should be vaccinated.

“I don’t think it’s too much to say, if you want one of those visas, if you want to come here, then you need to be double-vaxxed.

“I actually don’t think that’s too much to ask, given what we’ve been through,” he said.

“And I would just make this point; all the people who are watching the tennis at the Australian Open, they’re going to be double-vaxxed, all the people that work there are going to be double-vaxxed. It stands to reason that if you want to get into the country to be part of that tournament, you should be double-vaxxed as well.”

Djokovic has refused to reveal his vaccination status, throwing into doubt his ability to defend his Australian Open crown.

The nine-time Australian Open winner has indicated previously he’d be unlikely to do the 14-day hotel quarantine, which all players did for this year’s Open, to take his place in the tournament, which begins on January 17.

Last week, Djokovic — tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on 20 grand slam titles — said he was unsure if he would make the trip. “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.”

Despite the hardening no-jab, no-play views of the Premier, Tennis Australia is hanging on to hope of Djokovic making history at Melbourne Park.

Confusion reigned on Monday after a leaked email from the WTA said there were still provisions for unvaccinated players to come to Australia. It suggested Djokovic would have to do two weeks’ hard hotel quarantine upon arrival have regular testing.

Mr Andrews said while the ultimate decision on letting unvaccinated players into the country rested with the common­wealth government, if spectators had to be fully vaccinated then players should be. “You try getting into the US … most of Europe, ­really, (and) so many different parts of Asia if you haven’t been vaccinated,” he told the ABC.

“It stands to reason that if you want to get into the country to be part of that tournament, then you should be double-vaxxed.”

The leaked WTA email revealed vaccinated players would have “complete freedom of movement” and not be required to quarantine or stay in a bubble. A Tennis Australia statement said the governing body hoped to hold the tournament in “as close to pre-pandemic conditions as possible … We are working with the Victorian and federal governments on the conditions for players at Australian Open 2022 and look forward to having the details confirmed soon.”

There has been movement in the unvaccinated ranks in the past week, with last year’s Open runner-up Dominic Thiem confirming he would get the jab. World No. 5 Andrey Rublev also had a change of mind and Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas last week said he would fall into line with each country’s requirements.