Vaccine mandate could sink Djokovic's Australian Open chances

The chase is on for Novak Djokovic when it comes to a 21st Grand Slam title which would be a record breaking feat and set him apart from the other members of the so called Big Three.

But that is unlikely to happen at the Australian Open with the vaccine mandate mooted which could sink his chances.

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Victoria government demands athletes get vaccinated by late November or miss the Australian Open

According to The Age, Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley spent months raising concerns about this issue due to the tournament likely turning away big names with only 60% rumoured to be jabbed.

“Tiley said we won’t get star players and the state government effectively said ‘suck it up’,” a source with direct knowledge of the negotiations regarding this mandate said to The Age. “They capitulated.”

But is now resigned to his fate and could lose the biggest star on the men's side with Djokovic in particular saying that he believes in 'freedom of choice'.

"I don't think it'll come to that. I hope not, because I've always believed in freedom of choice," Djokovic told reporters previously.

"And I will keep the decision as to whether I'm going to get vaccinated or not to myself, it's an intimate decision and I don't want to go into this game of pro and against vaccines, which the media is unfortunately creating these days.

"I don't want to be labelled as someone who is against or who is for vaccines. I'm not going to answer the question and hope that everyone will respect that."

Jon Wertheim

@jon_wertheim

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Australian state makes COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for athletes | Reuters reuters.com/world/asia-pac…

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