Novak Djokovic may well take part in the French Open

Updated on 01/24/2022 at 13:05

• Novak Djokovic can probably intervene again in the Grand Slam events at the French Open – despite the lack of corona vaccination.
• This is made possible by a French exemption.
• And there is also a positive signal for Djokovic from Australia after his expulsion.

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France’s infection protection law now seems to allow Novak Djokovic to start at the French Open, the second Grand Slam station of the tennis year. Various media picked up a corresponding report from the Italian “Gazzetta dello Sport”.

The world number one from Serbia was excluded from participation in the Australian Open in Melbourne by court order at the last second after a grueling legal attrition battle. Djokovic’s visa was revoked due to his lack of vaccination against an infection with the corona virus. The 34-year-old left the country immediately on January 17 and arrived in his native Belgrade after a stopover in Dubai.

Also read: Australian court justifies Novak Djokovic’s visa withdrawal

On the same day, the first day of the main draw at the Australian Open, strong doubts were expressed about Djokovic’s eligibility to participate in the French Open in Paris in May.

The French news agency AFP, citing French government sources, had reported that apparently all athletes who wanted to take part in competitions in the country in the future would have to be vaccinated against the corona virus.

Roxana Maracineanu: Athletes can also start without vaccination

However, Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu had already declared on France Info on January 7, regarding a Djokovic start at the French Open in Paris, that an athlete “who is not vaccinated can take part in the competition because the protocol, the health bubble of this major sporting event, this allowed.”

It is not currently necessary to be vaccinated to enter France, but proof of vaccination will be mandatory for anyone entering an “establishment open to the public”.

In the case of Djokovic, the President of the French Tennis Federation (FFT), Gilles Moretton, said the day before the Serb left Melbourne that they were working with the public authorities, which “in due course would introduce the rules for the admission of unvaccinated foreign athletes to will clarify our tournament”.

This now seems to have happened – in the spirit of Djokovic. Because people who have been vaccinated with COVID-19 genesis are now treated equally in France. The prerequisite is that the positive test was no longer than six months ago. This is the case with Djokovic. His positive corona finding is from December 16, 2021. The French Open tournament in Paris starts on May 22nd. The final will take place on June 5th.

Novak Djokovic’s participation in Wimbledon is likely

Djokovic could also take part in the Wimbledon tournament, which starts on June 27th, without being vaccinated, but only after a ten-day quarantine. But the promise of the organizer is still pending.

The same applies to the US Open, which begins on August 29 and concludes the Grand Slam season. From today’s perspective, it seems unlikely that Djokovic will be allowed to serve there without a corona vaccination. In view of the dynamics of the pandemic, however, the relevant rules can still change in the USA by the end of August.

According to the law, Djokovic is banned from entering Australia for three years after his visa was revoked. So his next participation in the Australian Open would not be possible before 2026.

At the Australian Open again in 2023?

However, Craig Tiley, tournament director of the Australian Open, opened the door for 2023 in a conversation with the Australian TV broadcaster ABC: “At the end of the day he is number one in the world and he really loves the Australian Open”.

With material from AFP and dpa