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Novak Djokovic photo adds huge twist in Australian Open furore

Novak Djokovic, pictured here at a music festival in New York.
Novak Djokovic was spotted at a music festival requiring attendees to be vaccinated. Image: Twitter/Getty

Novak Djokovic has become the poster-boy for the debate around unvaccinated tennis players being allowed to compete at the Australian Open.

But what if the men's World No.1 is vaccinated after all?

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The controversy around whether or not the federal government should allow unvaccinated tennis stars into the country has been focused around Djokovic and his refusal to reveal whether or not he has had the Covid-19 jab.

However there are some sections of the tennis world that believe Djokovic might be vaccinated after all and is simply taking a stand over his right to keep it private.

"I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not, it is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry," he said last week.

"People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person.

"Whatever you say 'yes, no, maybe, I am thinking about it', they will take advantage."

Many have taken his comments to mean he isn't vaccinated, and the 20-time grand slam champion has previously expressed his opposition towards vaccinations.

But photos of the World No.1 at a music festival in New York have added a massive twist in the ongoing saga.

Djokovic was spotted living it up at the SummerStage event in Central Park after the US Open, an event that required attendees to show proof of vaccination to get access to the majority of areas.

The photos sent the rumour mill into overdrive that the Serbian star is vaccinated after all.

Darren Walton of AAP pointed out the situation on Twitter on Wednesday.

"I just heard ANOTHER prominent media personality (radio this one) say 'it looks like he’s not going to come'," Walton tweeted.

"Well, there’s a lot of loose presumptions swirling about Novak Djokovic but just cos he won’t publicly reveal his vaccination status doesn’t mean he isn’t vaccinated!"

Daniel Andrews and Scott Morrison at odds over Aus Open

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews are at loggerheads as the Australian Open vaccination debate rages on.

The PM on Wednesday said unvaccinated tennis stars would be welcomed into Australia for the season-opening grand slam in January provided they completed two weeks in quarantine.

"We want major events in this country. A lot of jobs depends on it. We want Australia to show to the world that we are open," Morrison told the Nine Network.

"If there is a special exemption that is warranted for an economic reason ... that can happen but you have to follow the health rules in that state.

"Two weeks quarantine for unvaccinated people, that is sensible."

Novak Djokovic, pictured here after winning the Australian Open in 2021.
Novak Djokovic celebrates after winning the Australian Open in 2021. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

But hours later Andrews emphatically ruled out seeking any exemptions for unjabbed players.

"What I want to make very clear is that the state of Victoria will not be applying for any exemptions for unvaccinated players," Andrews told reporters in Melbourne.

"I am not going to require people sitting in the grandstand, people working at the event, to be vaccinated while players aren't.

"So we're not going to be applying for an exemption. Therefore the issue is basically resolved."

The premier said even if unvaccinated players were given an exemption to quarantine in another state, they would not be allowed to enter Melbourne Park.

with AAP

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