Novak Djokovic has refused to reveal his vaccination status, raising doubts over whether he will jet into Melbourne for the Australian Open early next year.
The world number one has previously voiced his concerns over vaccine mandates and getting the jab.
Players underwent 14 days in hotel quarantine to play in Australia earlier this year, Djokovic begrudgingly going through that process and winning the tournament.
However, speaking to the Serbian news publication Blic, he said he was still undecided about repeating the trip to Melbourne for 2022.
“I still don't know if I will play in Melbourne,” Djokovic said.
“I am following the situation around Australia and as far as I understand, the final decision of the government of Australia and Tennis Australia will be in two weeks, so it is the first or second week of November.
“I do not believe that the conditions will change much in relation to what we already know. As was the case this year, there will be plenty of some restrictions. What I heard from my manager who is in direct contact with people from the Australian federation is that they are trying to improve conditions for everyone. Both for those who have been vaccinated and for those who have not.”
However, it may not be up to Djokovic to decide whether he competes.
The 34-year-old said he will not reveal his vaccination status, a decision which appears likely to rile Tennis Australia and the federal and state Governments.
“I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not,” he said.
“It is a private matter and according to our law, whoever asks you, you can in some way charge him for asking you. That is an immoderate question. Too many people today allow themselves such freedom to ask things and condemn a person. Whatever you answer: ‘Yes, I didn't, maybe, I don't know, I'm thinking!’ they will abuse it.
“The media has become … I have no word how to describe it. It spreads fear and panic among people and I don’t want to participate in that rift. I feel that everyone is hostile. I don’t want to give them a reason to write some things about me.
“Now what I told you, one of your editors can take and make a scandal out of it. I don't want to take part in any storm that is happening right now. I'm telling you, I don't know if I'll go (to Melbourne). Of course I want to go, Australia is my most successful Grand Slam, I want to participate, I love this sport, I still have motivation.”
Victorian Minister for Sport Martin Pakula told SEN’s Whateley last week it was likely that vaccinated and unvaccinated tennis players would enjoy different freedoms while in Australia.
However, he stopped short of declaring unvaccinated players wouldn’t be able to enter the country, saying that decision was still in the works.
“Last year, all of those players had to do their 14 days of quarantine. Right now there looks like there will be different rules for people who enter this country who are vaccinated as against unvaccinated and I don’t think the tennis will be any exception to that,” Pakula said.
“I think if I was an ATP or WTA player, I’d be getting vaccinated. That’ll give them the best opportunity to play in the Australian Open with the more minimal restrictions that’ll be in place for those people.”
Djokovic has won the last three Australian Open titles and holds the record for the most at nine, meaning his absence in the event would be a tragedy.