Novak Djokovic Will Be Sent Back If He fails To Prove 'Exemption' From Covid Vaccination: Australia PM

Novak Djokovic had declined to reveal whether he has been vaccinated against Coronavirus or not, resulting in speculations over his participation in the Grand Slam at Melbourne. It

World No. 1 Novak Djokovic, Pic Courtesy: AFP via Getty Images

New Delhi: Just a day after World No. 1 Novak Djokovic confirmed that he'll be competing at the season's opening Grand Slam event in Australia after getting a medical exemption from getting vaccinated against COVID-19, Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Wednesday asserted the Serbian tennis player will be "on the next plane home" when he lands in Australia, if he fails to prove why he cannot be vaccinated against COVID-19, Reuters reported.

“If that evidence is insufficient, then he won’t be treated any different to anyone else and he’ll be on the next plane home,” Scott Morrison said on Wednesday, as per Reuters. “So there should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever.”

PM Morrison added: “If medical exemptions have been provided by medical professionals and that’s been furnished to him as a proviso for him to get on that plane, well, that will have to stack up when he arrives in Australia.”

Djokovic had declined to reveal whether he has been vaccinated against Coronavirus or not, resulting in speculations over his participation in the Grand Slam at Melbourne. It is necessary for a traveler to disclose vaccination status upon landing in Australia as per their strict quarantine rules.

Exemption to unvaccinated travelers is only given if they manage to provide "acceptable proof" that they cannot be vaccinated against Covid for medical reasons.

"I've spent fantastic quality time with my loved ones over the break and today I'm heading Down Under with an exemption permission. Let's go 2022," Djokovic said on Instagram.

If everything goes right and the Tennis legends succeed in supporting his application with a genuine medical proof, he will aim to clinch a record 21st Grand Slam. Novak Djokovic has won 20 Grand Slam singles titles in line with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.