Novak Djokovic is threatened with further trouble even after his expulsion from Australia. Will the tennis star be banned from the dressing rooms?
Since the entry posse in the run-up to the Australian Open, it has been public: Djokovic, number one in the world tennis rankings, has not been vaccinated against the corona virus. A medical exemption was not enough for the Australian border authorities to legally enter Australia. Immigration Secretary Alex Hawke exercised his right to expel the Serb. The verdict was upheld by a federal court on Sunday, citing the 34-year-old’s anti-vaccination stance.
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Djokovic could also miss more Grand Slam tournaments. According to media reports, only vaccinated tennis aces should be allowed to serve at the French Open and also in Wimbledon. Similar rules are also emerging in other ATP tournaments. The Serb could not even name as an unvaccinated professional for these tournaments.
Djokovic no longer in tournament wardrobe?
And if Djokovic does make it into the starting field of a tournament, there are now further restrictions that should apply to unvaccinated tennis professionals. As “Sportsmail” reports, the ATP tour is working on a new set of rules that will only allow vaccinated players access to the association’s premises. This means that Djokovic and other unvaccinated players are no longer allowed to change in the cloakrooms at the tournament site. In addition, according to a draft, ATP gyms, restaurants and hotels should also be affected.
Unvaccinated players are allowed to take part in the tournament itself, but would have to submit a negative PCR test every 48 hours.
The vaccination regulation should therefore also affect the families and relatives of tennis professionals. They too should only be vaccinated in the tournament premises. The only exception is a player’s trainer, who also does not have to be immunized.
In lower class tournaments in Italy these rules should already be applied. The ATP now wants to extend this to the entire tennis tour.
