Dennis Widmer (right) is on the Australian Open Court Committee
Unvaccinated players at next year’s Australian Open can compete in the main draw despite not having had the immunisations required by the tournament, according to local media.
Australian Open chief executive Craig Tiley has reportedly told several players they will be allowed to play in Melbourne if they have not been vaccinated.
Most players involved in the tournament have had vaccinations to compete.
Tiley told Channel Nine the current rules are “now very clear”.
In a statement released by the tournament last month, Tiley said new rules were in place “to ensure everyone who competes in the Australian Open is disease-free”.
He continued: “We require vaccinations for entry to the Australian Open, which means that in order to compete at a Grand Slam, players must be ‘fully immunised’ against human papillomavirus and influenza.
“While it is my belief that all players should have vaccinated, ensuring the highest standards of health is my responsibility and decisions made by me and my team are always governed by the highest possible health standards.”
Several tennis players, including the women’s top-10 in world rankings, have not been vaccinated against the same sexually transmitted diseases.
American Karolina Pliskova was among those who decided not to have the recommended vaccines.