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Former world No. 1 Andy Roddick thinks Rafael Nadal would be extremely motivated to win the Australian Open if Novak Djokovic indeed skipped the opening Grand Slam of the season. The Australian Open officials have confirmed that unvaccinated players will not be allowed to play at Melbourne Park in January.
Djokovic, who has refused to reveal his vaccination status, didn't want to confirm his participation at the Australian Open. “We'll see,” Djokovic said on Saturday. “We'll have to wait and see”. Djokovic is a record nine-time Australian Open champion and he would be the top favorie to win a fourth consecutive title at Melbourne Park in January.
“We don’t know what’s going to happen with Australia,” Roddick said on Tennis Channel. “Nobody knows except Novak what he’s going to do and if he’s going to play the game the way it has to be played to participate in Australia.
“If he doesn’t, opportunity’s knocking for Medvedev, Zverev, Rafa’s going to be foaming at the mouth to get there and get to that 21st Slam so these other guys, they have to play their tournament either way”.
Craig Tiley hopes Djokovic plays the Australian Open
Australian Open tournament director Tiley said Djokovic understands that he has to be fully vaccinated in order to play at Melbourne Park. “We have been speaking to Novak and his team and they understand clearly that in order to come and play in the Australian Open they need to be fully vaccinated,” Tiley said.
“They know that it’s a condition for everyone, not just the players, but the fans and all the staff and he had indicated that it’s a private decision for him and at the right time he will tell us. “I know that he wants to play, he’s clearly indicated that and he knows the conditions that he would have to undergo in order to be eligible to play”.