“Novak is an immense champion and we can imagine his disappointment at not being able to defend his title at the Australian Open,” said Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation (FFT) on Sunday. Our hearts also go out to the tournament organizers. »
After the expulsion of Novak Djokovic from Australia where the latter was not authorized to play the first Major of the season, Moretton also confirmed, as we mentioned on Saturday, that the governing body of French tennis, in in charge of the organization of the Roland-Garros tournament, which will take place this year from May 22 to June 5 and of which Amélie Mauresmo has taken the reins, works with the authorities on the reception of “non-vaccinated foreign athletes”.
The 2022 edition of the Parisian grand slam, of which Amélie Mauresmo took the reins in early December, will take place from May 22 to June 5. “Our teams are working in collaboration with the public authorities, who will specify in due course the rules relating to the reception of non-vaccinated foreign athletes for our tournament,” said Moretton.
Roxana Maracineanu, the Minister of Sports, had mentioned on January 7 the establishment of a “health bubble” allowing unvaccinated players, or 3% of the Top 100 men, according to the ATP, to play the grand slam tournament. on clay. However, the position of the Minister Delegate is not the only one considered at the top of the State. As we indicated, other options are on the table within the interministerial crisis unit (CIC), and in particular that of a vaccination pass including for foreign athletes, so as not to create a difference between French citizens. and foreign athletes.
Chasing the record number of grand slam titles won, with 20 successes tied with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, Djokovic will hold Porte d’Auteuil in the spring another opportunity to establish a historic mark – or to equal Nadal at 21. titles, if he wins in Melbourne in a fortnight, in his absence…
Djokovic, the Australian Open, Roland Garros and Wimbledon defending champion, was expelled from Australia on Sunday, after the country’s Federal Court dismissed his appeal against the cancellation of his visa on the grounds that the world No. 1, not vaccinated against Covid-19, represented a “ health risk ».