Australian officials: Vaccine-free tennis players will not be allowed in the Australian Open

Tennis players who have not been vaccinated against COVID-19 will not be able to participate in the Australian Open despite initial optimism. Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews announced on Wednesday that his government would not require travel permits for unvaccinated players, and that Prime Minister Scott Morrison would allow them to compete soon after – along with forty-two weeks for each unvaccinated athlete.

Victoria will host the Australian Open in Melbourne in January.

“On behalf of all the Victorians who have been vaccinated who have done the right thing, my government will not ask for an exception for players who are not vaccinated,” Andrews said. “If we don’t ask for an exception, no exception will be granted and then the whole problem will be basically solved.”

About 30% of the top 100 men’s and women’s tennis players remain unvaccinated, CNN, Illuminating the Australian Open pitch. World No. 1 Djokovic – refuses to share his vaccination status – he said he may be forced to skip the Victorian tournament “as things stand” last week. The Australian Open victory would give Djokovic the 21st men’s singles Grand Slam title.

Andrews says keeping players without vaccines out of the Australian Open does not guarantee a double standard. Victoria’s professional athletes must be vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as all coaches, officials, the media, staff and fans.

“I’m not going to ask people sitting in the stands, who are working at the event, to get vaccinated while the players aren’t there,” Andrews said.

Australia, and especially Victoria, have taken the COVID-19 pandemic seriously since the pandemic began. Australia’s borders have been closed for 18 months with the exception of travel exemptions, and Victoria has closed the capital Melbourne six times. Unincorporated Australians are still banned from pubs, restaurants, sporting events, etc.

The Australian Open will begin on 18 January.