World No. 1 Novak Djokovic announced Tuesday that he would be playing in the 2022 Australian Open after receiving a medical exemption from the COVID-19 vaccine. Now, however, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is demanding proof of this exemption. Otherwise, Djokovic will be “on the next plane home,” per Reuters.
There has been rumblings that Djokovic wouldn't be defending his title at the Australian Open because of his vaccination status, which he has declined to make public. But Tennis Australia said the Serbian star was one of a “handful” of successful applicants out of a group of 26 people to get a medical exemption for the event. They claim there has been no special treatment, but Morrison isn't messing around and wants to make sure this is all on the up and up:
“We await his presentation and what evidence he provides us to support that,” Morrison told a media conference after chairing a meeting of state leaders about dealing with record levels of COVID infections in the country
“If that evidence is insufficient, then he won't be treated any different to anyone else and he'll be on the next plane home. There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.”
The decision to grant Djokovic an exemption for the Australian Open has been met with criticism in Australia, where there is a high vaccination rate. There was also previously a long lockdown in Melbourne in an attempt to stop the spread of COVID-19. The exemption application process was run by independent experts.
Djokovic won last year's Australian Open in convincing fashion, beating Daniil Medvedev in the final match in straight sets. It was Djokovic's record ninth victory at the event and a third straight. The tennis legend has 20 Grand Slam titles, tied for the most in history with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
Novak Djokovic tested positive for COVID in 2020.
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