MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 03rd October, 2021) Vaccination against COVID-19 could become mandatory for tennis players to participate at the Australia Open in February, The Age newspaper reported.
Earlier this week, the Australian state of Victoria issued a list of authorized workers who must get at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine within two weeks. The mandate included professional athletes. Even if the status of international athletes may be unclear under the new rules, a separate mandate may be issued to cover tennis players who wish to participate in the Australian Open, the newspaper reported.
Tennis Australia's head Craig Tiley, Australian Football League's CEO Gillon McLachlan, Melbourne cricket Club's CEO Stuart Fox and Secretary of the Department of Jobs Simon Phemister agreed that vaccination against COVID-19 should be mandatory for staff, who work with the public, and audiences, the newspaper reported. However, Tiley was initially concerned that the vaccination requirement could pose a problem for players.
If the rule is introduced, a question rises whether star player Novak Djokovic will participate. The Serbian player has said that vaccination should not be mandatory.
