WTA Email Leaked To Media, Content: Unvaccinated Players May Join Australian Open

Novak DJokovic refuses to reveal his vaccination status (Instagram @djokernole)

JAKARTA - Unvaccinated athletes will be able to take part in next year's Australian Open after serving 14 days of quarantine, the tennis organization for women's tennis players WTA told its players in an email that was leaked to the media.

The email contradicts a statement made last week by Australia's immigration minister that players need to be vaccinated against double doses to obtain visas in order to compete at the Grand Slam tournament.

According to reports, a third of players in the WTA and ATP have not been vaccinated, and world number one Novak Djokovic has refused to disclose his vaccination status.

In the email the WTA said it wanted to "clear up misinformation and misleading" about the conditions players will experience at the Australian Open.

The WTA said the information came from organizers Tennis Australia, who asked players to keep it a secret for "a few days" as they were still discussing details with the government.

The governing body for tennis in Australia, Tennis Australia, declined to comment.

Victoria's state sports minister, Martin Pakula, said no decision had yet been made on whether unvaccinated foreign players would be allowed into the country.

"It hasn't been decided yet," Pakula said.

"We are still finalizing with Tennis Australia and Commonwealth countries whether unvaccinated foreign nationals will be allowed into Australia and if so, under what circumstances will they be allowed."

"We're not sure it will be resolved over the next few weeks."

Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews said last week there would be no specific agreement for unvaccinated players to compete in the state, where vaccination is mandatory for athletes, coaches and officials in professional sports.

Pakula said Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley had told tennis players the vaccination rate was nearly 80 per cent.

He added that fully vaccinated players do not need to be quarantined upon arrival in Australia.

"One thing we have assured all of them, is that the vaccinated players will be treated in the same way as any other vaccinated participant who comes to this country," Pakula said.

From 1 November, fully vaccinated citizens, permanent residents and their family members living overseas arriving in Sydney and Melbourne will no longer need to be quarantined.

All players arriving from overseas for the 2021 Australian Open have been forced to undergo a two-week quarantine, although most have been allowed to leave their hotels for training.

Vaccinated players entering Australia from December 1 are not required to quarantine or remain in the biosecure bubble, according to a WTA email.

The email also mentioned that the qualifiers, which were moved to the United Arab Emirates for the 2021 tournament, would resume at Melbourne Park as usual.

Meanwhile, the WTA did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters on the contents of the email.