Djokovic allowed to play Wimbledon despite remaining unvaxxed
Novak Djokovic will be allowed to defend his title at Wimbledon despite not being vaccinated against COVID-19.
All England Club chief executive Sally Bolton gave Djokovic the all clear on Tuesday, as vaccinations are not required to enter Britain.
World No.1 Djokovic, missed the Australian Open in January after being deported because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19.
During the annual spring briefing ahead of Wimbledon, which starts on June the 27th, Bolton said “whilst, of course, it is encouraged [that all players get vaccinated], it will not be a condition of entry to compete” this year.
The 34-year-old, in addition to being unable to defend his championship at Melbourne Park after an 11-day legal saga over whether he could remain in Australia, had to sit out tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami because he couldn’t travel to the United States as a foreigner who is unvaccinated.
The US Tennis Association has said it will follow whatever governmental rules are in place regarding COVID-19 vaccination status when the US Open is held starting in late August.
Djokovic has said he got COVID-19 twice, once in 2020 and again in 2021. The tennis legend is tied at 20 with Roger Federer for the second-most grand slams for a man. They trail Rafael Nadal, who won his 21st at the Australian Open.
After what happened in Australia, Djokovic said he would be willing to sit out other grand slam tournaments if getting vaccinated was a requirement to compete.
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