Google News Todd Woodbridge: Novak Djokovic may not have happy ending if he skips Australian Open
by DZEVAD MESIC | VIEW 3284
Australian tennis legend Todd Woodbridge insists Novak Djokovic and his team have been aware that players would likely gave to be fully vaccinated in order to play the Australian Open. The Australian Open confirmed on Saturday that unvaccinated players will not be allowed to play at Melbourne Park.
"His team have been well aware of this," Todd Woodbridge said on WWOS radio. "The Australian Open entry list closes six weeks in advance of the tournament, so that's the 6th of December. But the reality is if he wants to play the Atp Cup and have preparations in Australia, he's going to have to have had that jab probably this week."
Woodbridge underlines a lot is at stake for Djokovic
Djokovic is tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal on the all-time Grand Slam record list with 20 Majors.
"There is that greatest of all time debate, and you can only be the greatest in your era - and he's turning out to be that, and I think it's important that he goes on with it," Woodbridge said. "It may not be the happiest of endings that he's looking for, if he doesn't come." Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley indicated that Djokovic wants to play.
“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”.