Martin Pakula has stated that the Vaccine mandate is to protect community and not to blackmail Novak Djokovic.
Victoria sport minister Martin Pakula has stated that the Vaccine mandate is to protect community and not to blackmail Novak Djokovic.
It has been stated by the organisers that only players that has been vaccinated will participate in the Australian open.
What was said.
“Under these blackmails and conditions, (Djokovic) probably won’t (play),” Srdjan Djokovic told Serbian media.
Victoria sports minister Martin Pakula said the vaccine mandate applied to all athletes in the southern Australian state, which hosts the Australian Open in Melbourne.
“If you’re a visiting international tennis player, or a visiting sportsman of any kind, it’s about your responsibility to the community that you are being welcomed into,” Pakula told Australian media.
“And that’s why we are asking those international tennis stars to follow the same requirements as Victorians are.”
He added that the mandate was not to blackmail Djokovic and hopes the Serbian get vaccinated in other to participate in the competition.
“It’s not about blackmail, it’s about making sure the Victorian community is protected.
“I want to make it clear that I really hope that Novak Djokovic gets vaccinated and plays in the Australian Open.
“But if he chooses not to, that’s a matter for him.”
Djokovic has won nine Melbourne Park titles, including this year’s tournament, and shares the record of 20 men’s Grand Slams with Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal.
Speaking earlier this week, Djokovic was quiet over his participation in next year’s first Grand Slam and said he wasn’t currently in contact with Australian Open officials.
He said: “I haven’t been talking to them. I was just waiting to hear what the news is going to be. Now that I know, we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Djokovic, who is yet to reveal his vaccination status, added: “The freedom of choice is essential for everyone, whether it’s me or somebody else.
