Daniil Medvedev Coy playing at the Australian Open

US Open champion Daniil Medvedev says he is ready to play in the Australian Open, but would not commit to it, as only players vaccinated against Covid will be allowed to participate. The 25-year-old Russian said he agrees with world’s number one player Novak Djokovic and that medical records should be confidential and private. It seems pretty certain that only vaccinated players will be allowed to take part in the first Grand Slam of the season, which starts in Melbourne on January 17th.

Despite an email leaked from the WTA last week suggesting that unvaccinated players could be quarantined for 14 days, Victorian State Prime Minister Daniel Andrews ruled out any exceptions.

Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic is one of many players who have refused to share their vaccination status and question whether he will defend his title.

Medvedev did not specify his own position, but says he is interested in adding consecutive Slam titles.

“Look, I want to play there,” he said at a news conference before the Paris Masters, where he’s the defending champion, through Zoom, on Sunday.

– I always said that I really like Novak’s answer that I want to keep my doctor private, whether it’s a head injury or a foot injury.

“This is because tennis is such a brutal sport where you are always one by one with your opponent and all the information you give him can be against you.

“I decided at some point to keep my medical information private unless it was obvious.”

“So, for example, if you play Australia, you’re clearly vaccinated.”

“I’m ready to play in Australia, but I’m not saying you’ll see me there in January.”

Medvedev – who still hopes to replace Djokovic as the world’s number one by the end of the season – said it would be interesting to see who play in the 2022 opening slums.

“It’s easy to see who will be vaccinated if they play in Australia,” said second in the world.

“Of course you can say you’re hurt, which is true sometimes, but I’m willing to play in Australia and that’s all I have to say.”

This year’s Australian Open suffered severely from the pandemic, with all players quarantined for two weeks while the audience was restricted and a five-day quick lockout called the middle of the event.

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Fully vaccinated players are expected to enter Australia without quarantine or limited to biosecurity bubbles, the leaked email added.

Tennis Australia said earlier this week it was working with both Victorian and federal governments on player terms and said it was “optimistic that we can keep the Australian Open as close as possible to pre-pandemic conditions”.