Victorian Government Gives Major Vaccination Update For Players Ahead of Australian Open 2022

Even though Novak Djokovic failed to accomplish his Calendar Slam at the US Open 2021, he won three Grand Slams- Australian Open, French Open, and the Wimbledon Championships this year. The Serbian now has 20 majors and is tied in the Grand Slam tally with this two arch-rivals, Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Interestingly, the G.O.A.T debate will resume at the Australian Open 2022 where each member of the ‘Big Three’ is expected to play. However, the next-gen superstars can also pose quite some challenge to them at the upcoming Grand Slam.

Victoria makes COVID-19 vaccine mandatory for all the athletes

Victoria, the Australian state where the Australian Open takes place every year, recently announced a new protocol. It proclaimed that every athlete will have to take two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to play in the state.

As per reports, the delta variant of the coronavirus has been causing a havoc in Victoria. As a result, the authorities are making sure that every athlete gets fully vaccinated by the end of November.

Surprisingly, the rule also exists for the visiting athletes. Thus, the English cricketers travelling for the upcoming Ashes or the players who will be arriving for the Australian Open 2022 must also be fully vaccinated.

“I don’t issue passports or visas … but I think it is highly unlikely that the Commonwealth government will be letting anybody into this country that has not been double-vaxxed, certainly in the medium term,” said Daniel Andrews, the Victoria Premier in an interview to Reuters.com.

Watch This Story: How Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams, and Others Travel

When is the Australian Open 2022 taking place?

Unlike last year, the Australian Open 2022 will be happening in January, 2022. As of now, it will be a two-week tournament that will stretch from January 17, 2022 to January 30, 2022. It will take place in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Even though the quarantine will not be as strict as last year, tournament director, Craig Tiley, said in an early interview that the vaccinated players will certainly enjoy more freedom.

Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka will begin as the defending champions at the Grand Slam. Who will be able to conquer Melbourne this year?

Also Read: Australian Open Announces Huge Update on 2022 Qualifiers