Topline
Novak Djokovic will be allowed to compete at Wimbledon this summer after tournament officials said Tuesday they would not require players be vaccinated against Covid-19, three months after the unvaccinated top-ranked men’s tennis player was kicked out of Australia for not complying with the country’s vaccination requirements, preventing him from defending his Australian Open title.
Key Facts
All England Club Chief Executive Sally Bolton at a Tuesday press conference said Covid-19 vaccination was “encouraged” but would not be a “condition of entry” to compete, noting the United Kingdom does not require travelers to be vaccinated against the coronavirus.
Bolton added that tournament officials were hoping to return to a “normal Championships” this year and would not implement any “substantial” Covid-19 measures.
The news comes three months after an Australian federal court upheld an Australian government decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa while he was in the country to compete in the Australian Open on public health and safety grounds.
The announcement also comes less than a week after Djokovic slammed Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the tournament amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, a move the tennis star called “crazy.”
What To Watch For
Whether Djokovic will be allowed to compete in other tournaments this year. French Open organizers said last month Djokovic would be cleared to play in the tournament after France lifted Covid-19 restrictions in almost all public venues. But it’s unclear whether he’ll be able to compete in the U.S. Open this fall after tournament officials have said they will follow whatever Covid-19 government rules are in place.
Key Background
Djokovic has missed out on several tournaments this year, including Indian Wells Masters and the Miami Open, because he is unvaccinated. In January, Djokovic challenged Australia’s Immigration Minister’s decision to cancel his visa over concerns his presence in the country would spark anti-vaccination sentiments. The Serbian tennis star had been granted a medical exemption to play in Australia, where travelers are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19, because he claimed he had the coronavirus in mid-December. An Australian federal court ultimately upheld the Australian minister’s decision. Djokovic, who has won 20 Grand Slams, said in February he would be willing to miss future tournaments rather than get a Covid-19 vaccine. He claimed at the time he is not “against vaccination” but for the “freedom to choose what you put in your body.”
Big Number
1.7 million pounds ($2.14 million). That’s how much Djokovic earned for winning Wimbledon last year. The tennis star earned $34.5 million in 2021, according to Forbes.
Further Reading
Djokovic Can Play at Wimbledon; No Vaccination Required (Associated Press)
Novak Djokovic Hits Out At Wimbledon’s ‘Crazy’ Decision To Ban Russian And Belarusian Players (Forbes)
