To clarify Australia’s visa requirements, Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said foreign players must have had two vaccinations to play the grand slam at Melbourne Park in January.
“You have to be double vaccinated to visit Australia. That’s a universal application, not just for tennis players. I mean every visitor to Australia must be double vaccinated,” Hawke told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.
“I have no message to Novak. I have a message to anyone who wants to visit Australia. He will need to be double vaccinated.”
Apart from Serb Djokovic, who has won nine of his grand slam titles at the Australian Open and the last three in a row at Melbourne Park, the rule could exclude dozens of players from the tournament.
According to recent media reports, more than a third of professional players remain unvaccinated.
Both the men’s ATP and women’s WTA tours have urged players to get vaccinated, but some have expressed reservations.
Greece’s number three in the world, Stefanos Tsitsipas, said in August that he would only be vaccinated if it became mandatory, although he later said he plans to vaccinate by the end of the year.
Tennis Australia, which hosts the grand slam, said it is working with authorities on conditions for players, fans and tournament staff.
“We understand that the details of international visitors entering the country are yet to be decided and we hope to have more information soon,” the governing body said.
Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said the country’s rules are about protecting Australians.
“They apply to everyone without fear or favour. It doesn’t matter if you are number one in the world or something else,” he told a media conference on Wednesday.
Australia has closed its international borders to non-citizens and non-permanent residents for 18 months, although there have been some notable exceptions.
International travel is expected to begin within weeks for Australian citizens, but non-citizens are expected to be locked out until early 2022.
Authorities in the state of Victoria, where the Australian Open will be held, said they would not make special deals with unvaccinated athletes to allow them to compete, even if they were granted a visa.
Melbourne, Australia’s second-largest city, has been on lockdown since August due to an outbreak of the highly contagious Delta strain, but will begin opening on Friday, when 70% of Victoria’s adult population is expected to be full. vaccinated.