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The tennis world received some big news when it was announced earlier that star Novak Djokovic would participate in the Australian Open. The news came with some controversy however, as Djokovic, who is unvaccinated, announced that he had received a medical exemption. Some in the tennis world, including Andy Murray’s brother and doubles champion Jamie Murray, took exception to Djokovic’s medical exemption.
Jamie Murray on Novak Djokovic's medical exemption: "I think if it was me that wasn't vaccinated I wouldn't be getting an exemption" #AustralianOpen
— Neil McLeman (@NeilMcLeman) January 4, 2022
Jamie Murray doesn’t like how Novak Djokovic was able to get a medical exemption to participate in the Australian Open. Murray is basically saying that he wouldn’t be doing what Djokovic is doing because the Serbian star is essentially putting himself- and others- in danger by participating in the event.
If Murray feels this way, who knows what other players on the tour feel regarding Djokovic’s Australian Open announcement. Aussie Open tournament director Craig Tiley seemed to address Djokovic’s medical exemption, saying that “independent protocols” were applied for certain players, among other things.
That’s another way of saying that the Australian Open, a tournament Djokovic has won a record nine times, didn’t want to hold the event without its biggest star.
One thing is for sure. Jamie Murray isn’t the only tennis player to express displeasure with Novak Djokovic’s Australian Open medical exemption. He’s just the first.