Novak Djokovic can play at Wimbledon; no vaccination required

LONDON: Unvaccinated players are not barred from participating in Wimbledon, clearing the path for Novak Djokovic to defend his men's singles title in June.

The CEO of All England Lawn Tennis Club, Sally Bolton, said Tuesday the tournament would not mandate vaccination against COVID-19, adding participants are not required to quarantine on arrival ahead of the tournament.

"The requirements set up do not include mandatory vaccination," Bolton said. "It will not be a condition of entry for the championships this year."

Wimbledon begins on June 27, when Djokovic has a shot at becoming a seven-time champion on the grass court.

Djokovic was in Australia and even practiced on the court after being sent to a quarantine hotel in a litigious tug of war with the top officials in the country. The Serbian ultimately was sent home because of his unvaccinated status. The matter played out in the court system as Australian officials flagged Novak Djokovic for breaking quarantine prior to his arrival and submitting inaccurate documentation to receive an exemption to play in the January event.

Djokovic plans to compete in the French Open and publicly objected to Wimbledon's ban of Russian and Belarusian players from the 2022 event. Bolton said on Tuesday the decision was made under direct guidance from the British government.

Also Read: Andrey Rublev outlasts Novak Djokovic to claim Serbia Open crown

Also Watch: Petrol Sold For Re 1/Litre In Maharashtra's Solapur