Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff says not having Novak Djokovic at the Australian Open would be a “brutal shame.” Last week, the Australian Open confirmed only fully vaccinated players will be allowed to compete at Melbourne Park.
Djokovic has refused to reveal his vaccination status and confirm his participation at the Austrlaian Open. Djokovic is a record nine-time Australian Open champion and he has won the tournament’s last three editions.
“From a sporting point of view, it would be a brutal shame if Djokovic does not compete in Australia. This is his most successful tournament,” Struff told SPOX.
Djokovic ‘understands’ the requirements
“We have been speaking to Novak and his team and they understand clearly that in order to come and play in the Australian Open they need to be fully vaccinated,” Australian Open tournament director Craig Tiley said.
“They know that it’s a condition for everyone, not just the players, but the fans and all the staff and he had indicated that it’s a private decision for him and at the right time he will tell us. “I know that he wants to play, he’s clearly indicated that and he knows the conditions that he would have to undergo in order to be eligible to play”.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews was the driving force behind banning unvaccinated players from playing at the Australian Open. “It’s been made very clear, when the premier announced several weeks ago that in order to participate at the Australian Open, to come into Victoria, you’ll need to be fully vaccinated,” Tiley said.
“Immediately we communicated that to the playing group. It is the one direction that you take that can ensure everyone’s safety. “All the playing group understands it. Our patrons will need to be vaccinated, all the staff working the Australian Open will need to be vaccinated, when you’re in a state where there is more than 90 percent of the population fully vaccinated, it’s the right thing to do”.
