Australian Open 2021: Australia responds to Djokovic that mandatory vaccination is not blackmail

El Government of the Australian state of Victoria, which hosts the Australian Tennis Open next January, indicated this Wednesday that mandatory vaccines against covid-19 to enter the country are not “blackmail”, in response to the statements of the father of the world number one, Novak Djokovic.

“It has nothing to do with blackmail but with making the Victoria community more protected“Victoria’s Sports Minister Martin Pakula told the media, after the tennis player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, questioned that his son is going to participate in the Australian Open for the mandatory nature of the vaccine to enter the country, which he considered “blackmail”.

“If you are an international tennis player or an athlete of any type of visit in the country, you will be welcomed based on your responsibility to the community. And that is why we ask international tennis stars to meet the same requirements as Victoria residents“Pakula said in statements collected by the public network ABC.

Djokovic, who has not wanted to reveal if he has been vaccinated against covid-19, would like to play the tournament “with all his heart”According to his father, who stressed to Serbian television Prva TV that “under these blackmails and conditions, he may not do so.”

“I would not do it. And he is my son, because the conclusion can be deduced, “the father of the current tournament champion said in the interview broadcast on Sunday., who has won nine times.

Certificate to participate

To participate in the Australian Open Tennis players are required to have a vaccination certificate, recently confirmed by Craig Tiley, tournament director.

Tiley said that the authorities of the state of Victoria, where the competition is held, they announced the obligation of the vaccine and so it was communicated to the players.

To win at the next Australian Open, played in Melbourne between January 17 and 30, Djokovic could beat Spaniard Rafael Nadal with 21 Grand Slam titles and the Swiss Roger Federer.