Novak Djokovic, who won the Australian Open three years in a row, may not be coming to the tournament in 2022.
Previously, it was reported that tennis players wishing to participate in the Australian Open in 2022 must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before arriving in the country.
– Not only in sports, but also in society, there are strong disagreements between those who are vaccinated and who are not. It's terrible if we discriminate against people who want to decide for themselves whether to get vaccinated or not. I am very disappointed with the society and the way the media convey information and put pressure on people. Too much uncertainty, too much false information. Now it turns out to be reliable, then again it is not – everything is changing rapidly.
I adhere to the same position. I will not disclose whether I was vaccinated or not. This is a private matter and I think this question is irrelevant. Too many today allow themselves to ask and then judge. Whatever you answer – yes, no, I don't know, I still think – it is being used against you. The media is spreading fear and panic, and I don't want to get involved when people are pitted against each other. The media is generally hostile, so I don't want to give a reason to write about me.
Now I said it, and one of your editors can make a scandal out of it. I don't want to get involved in disputes. In terms of sports, I don't know if I will go to Australia. Of course I want. Australia is my most successful Grand Slam, I want to play, I love the sport and I am motivated, ”Djokovic told the online edition of the Serbian daily Blic.
Djokovic, 34, won three of four Grand Slam tournaments in 2021. The biggest remaining events of the season are the Masters in Paris, the ATP Final Championship in Turin and the Davis Cup Final.
Djokovic is the winner of 20 Grand Slam singles tournaments (co-record holder for this indicator with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal), two-time winner of the career Grand Slam in singles.