Nick Kyrgios demands cancellation of Australian Open over ‘morally wrong’ player vaccination mandate | Australian Open

The tournament is scheduled to run from January 17, but there is still uncertainty as to whether players who have not been vaccinated or who do not disclose their vaccination status will be eligible to enter the tournament.

Government officials have not yet revealed final decisions on players ’vaccination policies – they are likely to be Tennis Australia next week – although Victorian Prime Minister Daniel Andrews is sticking to his state’s statement that no exemptions will be given to unvaccinated athletes.

World number one Novak Djokovic, who is aiming to win the fourth consecutive Australian Open, has refused to reveal whether he has taken the vaccine, and his performance in Melbourne Park remains questionable.

Kyrgios said he supported those players who had not received the injection or did not want to disclose their vaccination status. The Australian expressed his sympathy in particular to Djokovic and Melbourne-born basketball star Kyrie Irving, who has missed the start of the NBA season because he refused to take the Covid vaccine.

Kyrgios had outright criticized Djokovic after last year’s bad-fortune charity event Adria Tour, which ended in Covid-19-positive tests by Serbs and other high-profile players.

“Kyrie, Novak… These guys have given so much, sacrificed so much. They are global athletes that millions like people like, Kyrgios said. “I think it’s so morally wrong to force someone to vaccinate.

“I’m double vaccinated, but I just don’t think it’s right to force anyone [to be vaccinated] and say “you can’t come here to play because you’re not vaccinated.”

“There are other solutions around it, [such as] go testing every day. I know there are quick tests in the states and it is coming to Australia. That’s an 85% success rate, you wait 15 minutes, you get a negative test and then you can play.

Victorian Sports Minister Martin Pakula rejected Kyrgios’ request to cancel the tournament and said he found the player’s comments confusing.

“I really like it Nick kyrgios and I encourage him every time he plays, and I really don’t want to be meat with Nick Kyrgios, but I actually couldn’t follow the logic of his comment, Pakula said.

“We’ve had a long lock, so the Australian Open shouldn’t go on? I’m not sure if I’ll follow it. I think the opposite is true. The people of Melbourne, the Victorians and frankly all Australians are completely angry at the big events.

“Our economy needs it, the state psyche needs it. It’s a global grand slam, and it’s moving forward.