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Australian Open: towards a wave of packages due to compulsory vaccination?

2021-10-22T10:35:37.960Z


The vaccination imposed by the authorities could curb the enthusiasm of the many players who have not yet received their double dose.


The world of tennis is almost fixed. It was in the air, it's (almost) formalized. Those not vaccinated against Covid-19 may not obtain a visa to participate in the Australian Open (January 17-30), Dan Andrews, Prime Minister of the State of Victoria, whose capital Melbourne is home to, warned on Wednesday. in January the first Grand Slam of the year. “

I don't think an unvaccinated tennis player will have a visa to come to this country,”

he said. We know Australia does not joke with the pandemic. It closed its borders 19 months ago, and introduced the strictest restrictions in the world, imposing 250 days of confinement since the start of the pandemic, in particular by blocking tens of thousands of Australians abroad. ."

The virus is not interested in your ranking or the number of Grand Slam tournaments you have won,

”he added.

A fairly clear reference to Novak Djokovic.

Three-time defending champion in Melbourne, nine-time winner and in search of a historic 21st Grand Slam title, the Serbian, who has expressed in the past his doubts about the vaccine, hinted in an interview with the Serbian daily

Blic

, that he could skip the tournament.

And this, even before the warning of the authorities.

Read also Tennis: what if Novak Djokovic gave up on the Australian Open because of the vaccination?

Like Novak Djokovic, his runner-up Daniil Medvedev, refuses to say if he is vaccinated. Like Alexander Zverev, he has expressed his skepticism about vaccines, and does not wish to publicize his vaccination status. In Moscow, where he withdrew this week, the winner of the US Open hinted that he would be ready to perform a quarantine, of the type drastic that the participants of the Australian Open experienced in 2021. Namely: two weeks isolated in a hotel room with five hours of daily outing to train at the stadium; and a strict fortnight for 72 contact cases. "

If these players got a visa, they would probably have to stay in quarantine for two weeks, unlike the other players" vaccinated

“, Had indeed hinted Dan Andrew, leaving hope to the antivaccines.

Except that the Australian Minister of Immigration Alex Hawke, for his part, closed the door Thursday in an interview with the radio "RN Breakfast":

"If we open our borders, all those who come to Australia must have the double vaccination"

.

The message is crystal clear.

No exception therefore for the gratin of world tennis.

Read alsoIs the world of sport anti-vaccine?

And it will therefore be necessary for the world of tennis to accelerate (finally) on vaccination.

According to our information, only 65% ​​of players have a complete vaccination schedule on the ATP circuit.

It would be 60%, on the women's circuit.

World number two Aryna Sabalenka has said she does not trust the vaccine.

Daniil Medvedev, Novak Djokovic or Alexander Zverev, will have to change their position, otherwise the Southern Open may take place without them… The soap opera will continue in the weeks to come.

Novak Djokovic, announced at the Rolex Paris Masters, is obviously expected at the turn at the beginning of November on this burning issue.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2021-10-22

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