A member of the Victorian Government has confirmed that there is still no guarantee that players who have not received a COVID-19 vaccination will be allowed to play in the Australian Open next year.
Sports minister Martin Pakula has urged players to get vaccinated in order to maximise their chances of being allowed to play in the first Grand Slam of 2022. Recently the regional government implemented a health mandate requiring 1.25 million ‘professional workers’ to have two COVID-19 shots by the end of November. The list of those affected include all professional athletes.
As a result of the health mandate, some are questioning the implications it will have on the Australian Open which will be one of the first major events held in Melbourne featuring international athletes since their lockdown ended. Over the weekend former player Casey Dellacqua, who is ‘liasing’ with players on the WTA Tour, suggested that unvaccinated players face stricter rules if they are allowed into the country. A warning which has also been issued by Pakula.
“We’re talking to the Commonwealth about what the Visa requirements are for people coming into the country, that’s going to be the first step,” Pakula told Sports Entertainment Network (SEN).
“Last year, all of those players had to do their 14 days of quarantine. Right now there looks like there will be different rules for people who enter this country who are vaccinated as against unvaccinated and I don’t think the tennis will be any exception to that.”
Whilst it is the regional government who has issued the mandate, they will not have the final say as to if unvaccinated players will be allowed to play in the Grand Slam or even enter the country. That decision will be down to the national government of Australia who are yet to make a final decision.
“Whether or not unvaccinated non-citizens are allowed in at all, that’s something that’s still to be determined in that national sense,” he said.
“I think if I was an ATP or WTA player, I’d be getting vaccinated. That’ll give them the best opportunity to play in the Australian Open with the more minimal restrictions that’ll be in place for those people.
“In terms of what rules apply for people to enter Australia, whether unvaccinated people are allowed in at all, I don’t the answer to that yet. That’s going to be the subject of discussion at national cabinet and among the federal cabinet … those rules are not set by state governments.”
It is unclear as to when the rules for the 2022 Australian Open will be finalised but it is expected to be no later than early-mid December. For the second year in a row the qualifying tournament has been relocated to the Middle East and will take place in the week leading up to Christmas. Those who are successful in the event will then fly to Australia via charter flights.
The Australian Open is set to get underway on January 17th. Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka are the defending champions.
