Novak Djokovic will return to defend his Australian Open title after revealing he has secured a medical exemption for the tournament and he is on his way to Melbourne.
The exemption ends weeks of speculation about the possibility of Djokovic being able to compete in the opening grand slam tournament of 2022 since he had refused to divulge his vaccination status and had previously expressed doubt about taking a Covid vaccine.
All Australian Open participants must either be fully vaccinated or apply for and secure a medical exemption in order to enter Victoria without undertaking the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
“Happy New Year, everybody! Wishing you all health, love, and happiness in every present moment and may you feel love & respect towards all beings on this wonderful planet,” Djokovic wrote on social media.
“I’ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I’m heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let’s go 2022 !!”
Djokovic’s announcement has garnered mixed responses from some of his peers: “If it was me that wasn’t vaccinated I wouldn’t be getting an exemption,’ said Jamie Murray at the ATP Cup. “But well done to him for getting clear to come to Australia and compete.”
Liam Broady, who is Great Britain’s ATP Cup captain in Sydney, said: “You have to trust that he does have a valid reason for the medical exemption.”
Shortly after Djokovic’s announcement, the Australian Open confirmed he had received a medical exemption and they released a statement outlining the process. Two panels of experts were charged with reviewing the evidence, with the applications finalised by the Independent Medical Exemption Review Panel, a panel of experts appointed by the government. According to a Victoria State spokesman, the personal information of applicants is redacted in the process.
“Fair and independent protocols were established for assessing medical exemption applications that will enable us to ensure Australian Open 2022 is safe and enjoyable for everyone,” said Craig Tiley, the Tennis Australia CEO.
Criteria listed by the Australian Technical Advisory Group as permissible reasons for a medical exemption range from those suffering acute major medical conditions to any serious adverse event attributed to a previous dose of Covid-19 vaccine. For those who have recently tested positive for Covid-19, vaccination can also be deferred until six months after infection. The reason for Djokovic’s exemption is unclear.
While most of the top players have arrived in Melbourne in order to compete in the first week of competition, with some even landing before Christmas, Djokovic remained at his training base in Marbella after withdrawing from this week’s ATP Cup. His presencecould prove a defining moment as he attempts to win his 21st major title, which would break the record he shares with Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.
Despite successful medical exemptions for Djokovic and some others, not all players were able to make the trip to Melbourne. Natalia Vikhlyantseva, a Russian player ranked 195th, announced her withdrawal from the Australian Open last month since she had been vaccinated with Sputnik V, which was developed in her home country but is not recognised by the Australian government. - Guardian
