Australian Open director Craig Tiley urged Novak Djokovic to reveal the reason for the "medical exemption" that will allow him to participate in the first Grand Slam of the year, without ever having said whether or not he is vaccinated against Covid.
"It would certainly be helpful if Novak explained the conditions under which he applied for and obtained an exemption," Tiley, who is also president of Australia's Federtennis, told the media. "I encourage him to talk to the community ...
We have been through a very difficult time in the last two years and I would appreciate some feedback on that," he added.
However, Tiley denied that the number one in the world received preferential treatment to obtain such an exemption, during a process supervised by the Australian authorities and those of the State of Victoria. A total of 26 players or staff members, out of the roughly 3,000 expected in Australia, have applied for an exemption and only a few have obtained it, he explained.
Already winner of 20 Grand Slam tournaments, such as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic is aiming at Melbourne for the title that would give him the record. The Australian Open, which starts on January 17, is his favorite tournament: it is in Melbourne that the Serbian won his first Grand Slam (2008), and none have won as much as he (nine editions). The green light has sparked many negative reactions, in particular from some players who have denounced a favorable treatment towards the Serbian. Who has never clarified his vaccination status.
"Djokovic has to say why he can't be vaccinated."
Adriano Panatta also joins the chorus of criticism against the world's # 1 tennis player, who announced his participation in the Australian Open thanks to a vaccine exemption.
"If the organizers do not clarify the reasons for the exemption - Panatta told Radio Capital - then we will end up thinking that Djokovic is the Marquis del Grillo:" I know you and I are not a c ... "Panatta said to himself then skeptical about the possibility that other tennis players refuse to play against Djokovic. "It seems very difficult to me: either you participate in the tournament by accepting the rules or you refuse them by saying 'I'm not going because I don't agree'.
But you can't choose who to play against. "