Australian Prime Minister insists Djokovic will not receive special treatment to compete in Melbourne

Although medical exemptions are available for players to compete at next year's Australian Open, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has made it clear that Novak Djokovic will not receive any special treatment that would enable him play at the event.

The World No.1 has refused to publicly state his vaccination status, leading many to believe he may not compete at the event. However, the Serbian's name showed up on the entry list for the ATP Cup and the Australian Open, spiking an increase in rumors that Tennis Australia requested a special exemption for the defending champion.

“Those decisions are being made by medical officials and other officials, not by politicians,” Morrison said in an interview with Sky News. “He will follow the same rules as anyone else would.

"There are no special rules for tennis players or anyone else. They apply by the same rules and that they are the rules in place for the Victorian government and the Australian Open itself and they have their rules.”

Morrison's statement was backed by another politician, who claimed there was no chance Djokovic received a medical exemption to play the Australian Open.

“They’re the rules, medical exemptions are just that, it’s not a loophole for privileged tennis players,” echoed Victoria’s Deputy Premier James Merlino.

"It is a medical exemption in exceptional circumstances if you have an acute medical condition. So my view and I think the view of all Victorians and the expectation of all Victorians is that everyone who attends the Open player, spectator, staff, officials, everyone is fully vaccinated”.