El Monte Carlo Masters 1,000 made it clear this Thursday that the Serbian Novak Djokoviccurrent number 1 in the world, will only be able to participate in that tournament if he meets the health requirements demanded by France.
“If you are in order with respect to the sanitary conditions required by the French Government, we will be delighted to receive you. You have to be in order. At the moment, as far as I know, he is not vaccinated”, noted in a press conference its director, Zeljko Franulovic. The fact is that Djokovic has fixed his residence in Monaco.
The 1,000 Monte Carlo Masters, which in 2020 was canceled due to the pandemic and in 2021 was played behind closed doors, reopen its doors to the public In this new edition, April 9 to 17.
“To enter France the first rule is to be vaccinated. The ATP protocol also offers the possibility of delivering a contagion certificate one month before the start of the competition”added Franulovic, according to whom the Serb’s participation “will depend on him”.
Novak, on the edge
Djokovic, who tested positive for coronavirus on December 16 in Belgrade, will be able to participate right now since the margin of positive cases to enter France is four months.
The director of the Masters 1,000 in Monte Carlo, according to statements collected by the French press, said that all the players with whom they have spoken are vaccinated, except Djokovic.
Recall that at the beginning of last January, the tennis player traveled to Australia with a medical exemption from vaccination to play the Open in that country. However, not having been vaccinated, the Australian authorities denied him entry after a dispute that lasted almost two weeks and that Djokovic spent part of interned in a hotel for asylum seekers.
Franulovic admitted that he would love to have him, but stressed that he does not think the tournament will be affected by his absence. The final list of those registered will be closed on March 14 and the drawing will take place on April 8.
The French government, which on January 7 announced that Djokovic could participate in Roland Garros, rectified ten days later by warning that all those who compete must have the complete vaccination schedule, which will also be required of the public and professionals involved.
