World’s #1 Ranked Tennis Champion Novak Djokovic to Sit Out Australian Open, Will Not Reveal COVID-19 Jab Status to Play

We’ve found our Kyrie Irving of professional tennis.

No. 1 ranked and defending Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic plans to sit out this year’s tournament.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner refuses to reveal his COVID-19 jab status to the Nazi Australia regime.

Djokovic stated it’s a “private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.”

World’s Number 1-ranked tennis champion Novak Djokovic to sit out Australian Open in opposition to COVID vaccine mandate: “I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not, it is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.”https://t.co/np6qk81mAE

— Michael P Senger (@MichaelPSenger) October 22, 2021

World’s No. 1 – ranked #tennis champion Novak #Djokovic to sit out Australian Open in opposition to COVID vaccine mandate:

“I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not, it is a private matter & an inappropriate inquiry.” #Australia https://t.co/V6G2S1NdD7

— Rank Success (@Rank_Success) October 23, 2021

#1 in world and last years Australian Open champ Djokovic tells Australia he’s not coming back. With the videos being seen right now from Australia not really any different than past Olympic boycotts? “Novak Djokovic in doubt for Australian Open” https://t.co/GNnKwOblLv

— David Morrison (@MoMorry) October 23, 2021

https://twitter.com/culturaldude/status/1451980592095154179

From The Guardian:

Novak Djokovic and other tennis stars will be given no special exemptions to enter Australia if they are unvaccinated or won’t reveal their vaccination status, the federal immigration minister has said.

Asked on ABC radio on Wednesday morning whether he had a message for Djokovic, Alex Hawke reiterated that anyone entering the country must be double vaccinated.

“The government in establishing its borders has said that you will need to be double vaccinated to visit Australia, that’s a universal application, not just for tennis players,” Hawke said.

Asked if he could see any workaround for the Australian Open, Hawke said “not at this time”.

“Our health advice is that when we open the borders everyone that comes to Australia will need to be double vaccinated.

“I don’t have a message for [Djokovic], I have a message to everybody who wishes to visit Australia – you will need to be double vaccinated.”

On Tuesday the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, also cast doubt on whether Djokovic would be able to enter the country, saying Covid “doesn’t care what your tennis ranking is”.

But Djokovic isn’t the only tennis star in jeopardy of missing the tournament.

Due to their COVID-19 jab policy, Australia risks many of the sport’s biggest names refusing to participate.

It’s creating a nightmare scenario for Australian authorities before the highly-anticipated Grand Slam event.

Tennis 2021: Australian Open facing staggering player revolt. The Federal government's no-jab no-play policy threatens to rob the Australian Open of some of the biggest tennis players from around the world. https://t.co/wQ2kwzImLR

— Marina van Zyl (@marinavanzyl) October 22, 2021

From yahoo!sport:

Questions about Djokovic’s return to Melbourne Park to defend his title in January were raised when Victoria recently introduced a vaccination mandate for professional athletes.

On Tuesday, Premier Daniel Andrews said unvaccinated sports stars would be unlikely to receive a visa, making the domestic restriction a moot point.

And on Wednesday, Federal Immigration Minister Alex Hawke confirmed there was no prospect of travel rules being relaxed for incoming tennis players.