Australian Open controversy continues with Victoria's premier refusing to seek permits for unvaccinated players

There seems to be no immediate resolution to the standoff between the Australian government and the host state for January's Australian Open, as Victoria's premier said he would not apply for permits to allow unvaccinated athletes to enter the country.

Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews stuck to his guns on Wednesday, after Australian Prime Minster Scott Morrison had earlier stated that unvaccinated players could come into the country, provided they underwent a mandatory two-week Covid-19 quarantine. This would mean that Victoria would need to apply for permits to allow the players to compete in the year's first Grand Slam tournament in Melbourne, and Andrews quickly made it clear that would not happen.

"On behalf of every vaccinated Victorian who has done the right thing, my government will not be applying for an exemption for any unvaccinated player," Andrews told reporters. If we don't apply for an exemption, then no exemption will be granted and then the whole issue is basically resolved."

Victoria has been Australia's hardest-hit state, with its capital Melbourne locked down six times. The sixth lockdown ended last Friday, but only for fully vaccinated adults.

Andrews said tennis players should be held to the same standard as everyone else at the event.

"I'm not going to require people sitting in the grandstand, people working at the event, to be vaccinated while players aren't," added Andrews.

Professional athletes in Victoria are under a vaccine mandate, which also covers coaches, officials, media and other staff involved in elite competition. Currently around 70 per cent of the top 100 men and women tennis players are vaccinated.