\u2018Exemption permission\u2019
\n MELBOURNE
\nWorld number one Novak Djokovic said Tuesday that he was heading to the Australian Open to defend his title after being granted a medical exemption to play.
\nAll participants at the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a medical exemption, assessed by an independent panel of experts.
\nThe Serb has repeatedly refused to confirm if he has been inoculated, with his participation at the opening Grand Slam of the year at Melbourne Park the subject of intense speculation for months.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I\u2019m heading Down Under with exemption permit. Let\u2019s go 2022!\u201d the nine-time Australian Open winner said on Instagram.
\nHis post was accompanied by a picture of him at an airport, looking relaxed, with his bags.
\nDjokovic\u2019s confirmation that he is en route sets the scene for a showdown with arch-rival Rafael Nadal, with both gunning for a record 21st Grand Slam title.
\nThe Spanish superstar is already in Melbourne preparing after recovering from the coronavirus. Djokovic has previously expressed his opposition to the Covid-19 vaccine and his father Srdjan said in late November that his son would probably not play in Melbourne, accusing the organisers of \u201cblackmail\u201d. Government officials in Victoria state, which hosts the Australian Open, had been adamant for months that only vaccinated players would be able to play the tournament.
\n\u201cThey\u2019re the rules. Medical exemptions are just that — it\u2019s not a loophole for privileged tennis players,\u201d the state\u2019s Deputy Premier James Merlino said last month.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u2018Exemption permission\u2019 MELBOURNE World number one Novak Djokovic said Tuesday that he was heading to the Australian Open to defend his title after being granted a medical exemption to play. All participants at the Australian Open, which starts on January 17, need to be vaccinated against Covid-19 or have a medical exemption, assessed by an […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-236881","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n