“An unexpected blow to Novak Djokovic.” “L’Equipe”: End of dreams?

Novak Djokovi may still not be vaccinated against COVID-19. Otherwise, he would have shared this information and reassured the sponsors. As a result, as an unvaccinated person, he has limited opportunities to compete in the largest tournaments in the world. He has already been excluded from the Australian Open 2022. There are many indications that the same fate will befall him on Roland Garros.

Stricter rules in France

– At the moment, Novak Djokovic has a valid pass to France, valid until June 16. However, from February 15th, the deadline will be reduced to April 16th, which would prevent his participation in Roland-Garros – reports “L’Equipe”. – Djoković received an unexpected blow from the government – we read in the French media. Unexpected, because according to the latest information, the tennis player was to be sure of his performance in Roland Garros.

During a court hearing in Australia, he argued that on December 16, 2021, he had obtained a positive test for coronavirus. For today, this test would be a kind of “entry ticket” for a tennis player to France. The problem is that the French authorities have just introduced stricter regulations.

Djoković and Roland Garros

From February 15, anyone who is not vaccinated will have to provide proof that they tested positive for COVID in the last four months – compared to the current six months – in order to enter sports venues in France. The new law is critical to the government’s pandemic plan to limit access to stadiums, restaurants, bars and other public places for unvaccinated people.

Roland Garros will be held from May 22 to June 5. The current regulations allow Djoković to enter France from December 16 (tested positive) to June 16. The new ones will limit this date to April 16. If these rules remain in effect until the tournament starts, they are likely to block the leader of the ranking from the Paris event. To play in the French capital, a tennis player would have to vaccinate or test positive again within four months of starting Roland Garros.

Confusion continues

is just about to end, and the confusion with Djoković’s possible performance in the next Grand Slam tournament is in full swing. Even before the tennis player was deported from Australia, and the fate of his visa was at stake, “Der Spiegel” reported that French Sports Minister Roxane Maracineanu admitted that Djoković could compete in the Paris event without vaccination. A few days later, the French health ministry announced that the vaccines would be compulsory for athletes coming to the country for the competition.

In addition, an e-mail that ATP sent to players was leaked – the organization explained the new vaccination rules. – Tennis players have been informed that soon the French government will pass a law banning unvaccinated athletes from participating in any sports competition. The players will have to be fully vaccinated or have a medical certificate that exempts them from vaccination for medical reasons, the “Tennis Majors” portal reported.

Less than a week has passed, and the Italian “La Gazetta dello Sport” and the Spanish “AS” informed about another turn of shares. They agreed that in order to participate in Roland Garros 2022, it is enough to have a documented passage of coronavirus infection in the last six months. Now this period has been reduced to four months.

No credibility

There is also a problem with the credibility of the December positive Djokovic test. The investigation of the journalists of “Der Spiegel” revealed manipulations on the part of the tennis player. To this day, the Serb has not clearly explained the whole matter. He only admitted that the day after receiving a positive test result, he met a journalist and photographer “L’Equipe”.

– I canceled all the other events except the interview. I felt compelled to talk as I did not want to disappoint the journalist, but I made sure I kept my distance and wore a mask, except when pictures were taken. When I went home after the interview to isolate myself for the required period, after some reflection I thought it was a mistake and I agree that I should have postponed this commitment, admitted Djoković. This translation is hard to believe.

Organizers Roland Garros said it was too early to comment on the commotion with Djokovic as the pandemic’s restrictions may yet change.

McEnroe doesn’t understand

It is not really known what the health status of Djokovic is. The Serb claims to have contracted Covid twice: in June 2020 after a series of Adria Tour tournaments, and in December 2021. Only in the first case he informed about it on social media and in the second he was silent. Why? If Djoković doesn’t come to Paris, he won’t be able to defend his title last season.

– Confusion with Novak is still incomprehensible to me. I know Novak, he is an extremely intelligent man. If he tested positive, why the hell was he seeing a journalist the day after? It makes absolutely no sense to me. The guy is not stupid. He is smart. Also, he wasn’t sitting in December thinking, “I hope I can get Covid so I can get a waiver to Australia.” It will be the same for Roland Garros, I do not believe that he will be waiting for another positive result – said in an interview with journalists the legendary John McEnroe, a former leader of the ranking, a seven-time Grand Slam champion.