Novak Djokovic is not yet confirmed for the
Australian Open with the delay most likely to do with the vaccination mandate imposed on all participating players.
The decision was finally made public a few days ago after weeks of continuous debating and reporting of conflicting plans and ideas. Craig Tiley was the one the confirm that all players that are competing at the event will need to be vaccinated in order to do so. The tournament director explained the decision as simply following guidelines set out by the government.
Tiley said that all staff at the event will be vaccinated and players that are incoming should be too. Now the director has come out and spoken about Djokovic who is still yet to confirm his participation at the event. Djokovic dodged repeated questions about the matter simply saying we will see.
Asked about Djokovic Tiley said he pretty sure Djokovic will not want to miss the event:
"One of them will surpass the others. I don't think Novak would want to leave that to someone else. Novak has won nine Australian Opens, I'm sure he wants to get to 10."
Tiley also confirmed that 85 % of the players set to participate at the event have been already vaccinated with the final number being about 95 %. Asked about players that will not get vaccinated Tiley explained that they have an exemption:
"A couple have medical exemptions which are in line with Victoria's state health rules. And
so it should be because there shouldn't be any preferential treatment
coming into the state compared to what the regular community is going
through."