Just days after new laws were introduced that would see Novak Djokovic banned from the French Open, a loophole has been discovered.
The world No 1, who was deported from Australia a week ago, immediately saw the door slammed on his aspirations to win a 21st grand slam title when Emmanuel Macron changed the vaccination policy in France.
It was widely reported that the no jab no play approach in France would effectively rule Djokovic out of the May slam.
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However, according to reports in Europe, France’s vaccination passports will provide exemption to those who have contracted the virus in the last six months.
Djokovic claims he tested positive on December 16 2021 which would see him squeeze Roland Garros into the 26 week window.
The French Open is scheduled to begin on May 22nd and end on June 5th.
Djokovic is the defending champion.
It remains unclear at this stage if Djokovic will be able to contest Wimbledon and or the US Open.
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ROD LAVER ARENA
Day session – From 11:00am AEDT
Women’s Singles • Round 4
M. Keys
P. Badosa 8
Women’s Singles • Round 4
B. Krejcikova 4
V. Azarenka 24
Day session – Not before 2:00pm AEDT
Men’s Singles • Round 4
A. Mannarino
R. Nadal 6
Night session – From 7:00pm AEDT
Women’s Singles • Round 4
A. Barty 1
A. Anisimova
Men’s Singles • Round 4
P. Carreno Busta 19
M. Berrettini 7
MARGARET COURT ARENA
Day session – Not before 1:00pm AEDT
Women’s Singles • Round 4
J. Pegula 21
M. Sakkari 5
Day session – Not before 3:00pm AEDT
Men’s Singles • Round 4
A. Zverev 3
D. Shapovalov 14
JOHN CAIN ARENA
Day session – Not before 6:30pm AEDT
Men’s Singles • Round 4
Legends’ doubles
M. Philippoussis/P. Rafter
W. Ferreira/S.Groth
Men’s doubles • Round 3
K. Krawietz/A. Miles 12
J Peers/ F. Polasek 5
Men’s doubles • Round 3
J. Kubler/C. O’Conell
T Puetz/M. Venus
Nitght session – Not before 6:30pm AEDT
M. Kecmanovic
G. Monfils 17
11:15AM: STAR DOESN’T REALISE HE HAS WON
There’s a lot going on when you’re playing for a spot in the fourth round of a grand slam.
But not realising you have won? That’s something we haven’t seen before.
World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas did not drop a service game, despite losing a set, as he overpowered Benoit Paire to reach the fourth round.
And while everyone celebrated for him, it took the Green ace a while to realise it was over.
Heretreated to the baseline to prepare for the next point, that was until the umpire announced “game, set, match.â€
“Guys that was wild, Stefanos literally did not know that he had won the match there,†Brad Stine said in commentary.
“It was funny because Benoit was staring him down, it looked like he (Tsitsipas) was going to go get his towel before he came to shake hands and Benoit actually looked a little irritated like, ‘Come shake hands, man, what are you doing?’
“Then he turned around and saw Benoit at the net and realised what was happening.â€
Tsitsipas was on course for a straight-sets win but decisively lost a tiebreak to the Frenchman, before going on to see out victory 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-4 in 2hr 42min on a steamy Rod Laver Arena.
Tsitsipas will face Taylor Fritz for a place in the quarter-finals after the American overcame Spanish 15th seed Roberto Bautista Agut 6-0, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Tsitsipas is a two-time semi-finalist in Melbourne but is yet to win a Grand Slam title.
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1015am SERENA’S COACH WEIGHS IN ON KYRGIOS
Tennis needs Nick Kyrgios more than Nick Kyrgios needs tennis.
Love him or loathe him, you can’t argue with the statement.
The NK effect has been on show at tournaments around the world for years. But the Aus Open has seen it in full swing with more young men sitting in the stands than ever before.
Irrespective of the Aussie’s world ranking he will be a top choice for wildcards – should he need them – for years to come.
He puts bums on seats and he turns televisions on.
While he continues to divide opinion, he’s getting support from all the right place.
Most recently from Serena Williams’s coach Patrick Mouratoglou who says Kyrgios is “everything tennis that needs.â€
Let’s go ⚡️ https://t.co/ZUof43GYJ6
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) January 22, 2022
9:45am TILEY DODGES QUESTIONS
Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley has again dodged questions about Novak Djokovic and the handling of the deportation fiasco.
A week after the world No 1 was booted out of the country after having his visa cancelled for a second time, plenty of questions remain unanswered.
Djokovic has been seen in public on multiple occasions since he arrived back in Serbia, but Tiley had little to say when asked if he would have done anything differently.
“Just prior to Novak leaving we did talk and have a conversation as well as during the period of it,†Tiley told Channel 9.
“There are reports that he is having some quiet time with his family and where we are today is that we’re focused on delivering a great event.â€
It is the second time this week the CEO has sidestepped questions regarding the global circus that was Djokovic’s time in Australia.
On Thursday, Tiley said he believed tennis authorities had “already addressed those questions†surrounding whether either he or Tennis Australia had done anything outside of the guidelines provided to them by the federal and state governments.
9:20am ALCOTT GETS GOING
Dylan Alcott’s phone doesn’t stop pinging with Instagram direct messages.
With more than 187,000 followers, that’s probably to be expected.
Say “Dylan†around town and everyone knows who you mean.
But instead of the typical messages of support – or the occasional sledge – there’s something deeper.
It never ceases to surprise him.
Or stump the man who is rarely lost for words.
“I don’t really know how to reply,†Alcott told News Corp ahead of his final tilt at an Australian Open title.
“Some people are like ‘I have a disabled child, and I didn’t really know how to go about it, and now I’ve seen you and it’s changed my own perception of my kid – now I have hope for them’.
9am GOOD MORNING
We are at the halfway point of the Aus Open! What a week it has been. Good news for Aussie fans: we are alive in the singles, doubles and wheelchair competition.
Ash Barty and Alex De Minaur are safely through to round four, Dylan Alcott gets his campaign underway today and the Special K’s are also in action.
I tell you, if there’s one place to be today (besides following this coverage) it’s on the Kia Arena where the Special Ks play ahead of Alcott.
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