The world's best tennis players are caught in a simmering standoff between the Australian Government and the host state for January's Australian Open, with Victoria's Premier insisting he won't apply for permits to allow unvaccinated athletes into the country.
Daniel Andrews has drawn his line in the sand, despite Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison earlier opening the door for unvaccinated players, saying they can visit, providing they underwent a two-week COVID-19 quarantine.
The sting in the tail was that Victoria would need to apply for permits to allow the tennis players to compete in the year's first Grand Slam tournament at Melbourne and Andrews has made it clear that will not happen.
"On behalf of every vaccinated Victorian who has done the right thing, my Government will not be applying for an exemption for any unvaccinated player," Andrews says. "If we don't apply for an exemption, then no exemption will be granted and then the whole issue is basically resolved."
Australia's borders have been effectively sealed for 18 months, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, although authorities approve travel exemptions for special cases.
Victoria has been Australia's hardest-hit state, with capital Melbourne locked down six times. The sixth lockdown ended on Friday, but only for fully vaccinated adults.
Some top players, including defending champion Novak Djokovic, have declined to disclose their vaccination status. Serbia's world No.1 says he might not play at the tournament.
Prime Minister Morrison says Australia still wants to be a destination for top sporting events, even during a global pandemic.
Currently, about 70 percent of the world's top 100 men and women tennis players are vaccinated.
Reuters
