Australian Open: Djokovic granted medical exemption to play 

After months of uncertainty and speculation, Novak Djokovic has announced he will compete at the Australian Open after being granted a medical exemption from vaccination against Covid-19 reports The Times of London.

The world No 1 and 20-times grand-slam champion from Serbia had remained tight-lipped for some time over the prospect of a trip to Melbourne this month, preferring not to disclose his vaccination status.

Shortly after the start of the pandemic in 2020, he expressed his reservations surrounding the concept of mandatory jabs to compete, a requirement that was set by Australian health authorities in November.

The saga has overshadowed the build-up to the first grand slam of the season, which starts on January 17, with Craig Tiley, the tournament director, admitting as recently as Sunday that he was unsure as to whether Djokovic would defend his title.

Confirmation came on Monday when the 34-year-old posted a photograph on social media, posing with his luggage at an airport.

 “I’ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I’m heading down under with an exemption permission,” Djokovic wrote on Instagram. “Let’s go 2022. I am ready to live and breathe tennis in the next few weeks of competition.”

The reason for Djokovic, a record nine-times winner of the men’s title in Melbourne, being granted an exemption by the Australian health authorities is unclear.

The process involves an initial review from an independent panel of doctors, before a final decision by another panel of experts. Grounds for an exemption include “inflammatory cardiac illness within the past three months” and a “current acute medical condition”.

Another possibility is that Djokovic contracted Covid-19 for a second time recently — he first tested positive in June 2020 after holding a series of exhibition events in the Balkans. One of the guidelines allows an exemption to be issued if the applicant has tested positive and deferred vaccination up until six months after the infection.

“Djokovic applied for a medical exemption which was granted following a rigorous review process involving two separate independent panels of medical experts,” a Tennis Australia statement said.

This is sure to be a huge talking point among players in the locker room over the coming days. Jamie Murray said on Tuesday: “I think if it was me that wasn’t vaccinated I wouldn’t be getting an exemption. But well done to him for getting clear to come and compete.”

Djokovic is not the only person involved with the Australian Open to have received this authorisation. Tiley said that out of more than 3,000 players, coaches and staff, a “small percentage” had been granted exemptions despite being unvaccinated.

“Fair and independent protocols were established for assessing medical exemption applications that will enable us to ensure the Australian Open 2022 is safe and enjoyable for everyone,” Tiley said. “Central to this process was that the decisions were made by independent medical experts and that every applicant was given due consideration.”

The decision will no doubt attract a backlash in Melbourne, which has the unenviable status as the world’s most locked-down city during the pandemic, with six separate stay-at-home orders totalling 262 days. Last month James Merlino, the deputy state premier for Victoria, said exemptions were “not a loophole for privileged tennis players”.

Confirmation of Djokovic’s exemption has come later than others, suggesting this was processed at short notice. He was scheduled to compete for Serbia in this week’s ATP Cup in Sydney but withdrew last week without giving a reason. In recent days he has been practising in the south of Spain.