Will Novak Djokovic Play In 2022 Australian Open? Vaccine Exemption Must Be Proven, Prime Minister Says

There appears to be some uncertainty regarding Novak Djokovic’s status for the 2022 Australian Open. The tennis star received a medical exemption that allows him to play in the tournament whether or not he’s received two vaccine doses against COVID-19, though Djokovic must still show proof that he can’t be vaccinated for health reasons to enter the country.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the decision about Djokovic’s vaccine exemption would be left up to the government of Victoria, the state where the Australian Open is taking place. However, Jaala Pulford, Victoria state's acting minister for sports, later said on Twitter that visa approvals are a matter for the federal government.

“He must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangements as fully vaccinated travelers,” Morrison said of Djokovic in a press conference Wednesday. “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.”

On Tuesday, Djokovic posted a picture of himself at an airport on social media and said he was headed to Australia “with an exemption permission.”

Djokovic has not revealed his COVID-19 vaccination status, though it’s widely assumed that he’s unvaccinated. The 34-year-old tested positive for COVID-19 in June 2020.

"While the Victorian government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border," Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said in a statement. "If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travelers."

The world’s top-ranked tennis player, Djokovic has won three straight Australian Open championships. Since 2008, Djokovic has won the tournament nine times.

Djokovic has 20 career Grand Slam titles, tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal for the most all-time. Djokovic won the first three Grand Slams in 2021 before losing in the finals of the U.S. Open.