World No.1 Novak Djokovic says helium doesn't cognize if helium volition support his rubric astatine the Australian Open successful January, citing continuing concerns implicit COVID-19 restrictions.
Djokovic, who would beryllium aiming for a 4th consecutive triumph astatine Melbourne Park, and a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title, told Serbian media that galore players person "bad memories" of this year's tournament, wherever 72 players were forced into hard quarantine for 2 weeks.
The 34-year-old erstwhile again refused to disclose whether oregon not he's been vaccinated against COVID-19. The Victorian authorities precocious made it compulsory for indispensable workers, which includes nonrecreational athletes, to beryllium vaccinated, though it's not yet wide if that applies to overseas players.
"Things being arsenic they are, I inactive don't cognize if I volition spell to Melbourne," Djokovic told the Serbian work Blic.
"I volition not uncover my status, whether I person been vaccinated oregon not, it is simply a backstage substance and an inappropriate inquiry.
"People spell excessively acold these days successful taking the liberty to inquire questions and justice a person. Whatever you accidental 'Yes, no, maybe, I americium reasoning astir it', they volition instrumentality advantage."
Djokovic won three of this year's 4 large titles, falling to Daniil Medvedev successful the last of the US Open arsenic helium sought to go the archetypal subordinate since Rod Laver successful 1969 to triumph the calendar twelvemonth Grand Slam.
He's present drawn level with long-time rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer with 20 Grand Slam titles, though Australian fable Todd Woodbridge precocious told Wide World of Sports that helium believes the epoch of the 'Big Three' is over, pursuing Medvedev's breakthrough triumph successful New York.
Djokovic said edifice quarantine accrued the hazard of wounded erstwhile the tourney began.
"Of people I privation to go, Australia is my astir palmy expansive slam tournament," helium said.
"I privation to compete, I emotion this athletics and I americium inactive motivated.
"I americium pursuing the concern regarding the Australian Open and I recognize the last determination volition beryllium made successful 2 weeks.
"I judge determination volition beryllium a batch of restrictions conscionable similar this year, but I uncertainty determination volition beryllium excessively galore changes.
"My manager, who is successful interaction with the Australian tennis federation, tells maine they are trying to amended the conditions for everyone, some for those who person been vaccinated and those who person not."
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