'No concerns' over Djokovic's vaccination status at Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships tournament director Salah Tahlak is happy to welcome Novak Djokovic back to the emirates and assures there are no concerns over the world No 1’s vaccination status.

The Dubai-bound Djokovic is set to make his first tournament appearance here since his visa cancellation and deportation from Australia last month, which followed a 12-day saga that saw him get detained at the airport in Melbourne for not satisfying the Border Force’s Covid-19 vaccination requirements.

While Djokovic may face trouble attending other events on tour this season if he remains unvaccinated, the Serb can freely enter the UAE, where he has won the Dubai title five times.

“I think we always have to be positive, Dubai is a positive city. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed is always positive, he says whatever happens in the history, leave it behind you and let’s go forward because if you’re standing still that’s not going to help you,” said Tahlak on Saturday.

“It’s better to think of the future and be positive. I think it’s great to have him [Djokovic] back. I know the whole world has been against him but at the end of the day he’s number one in the world and he’s a former champion in Dubai.”

The UAE does not require visitors to be vaccinated and Tahlak says as long as the 20-time major champion follows the testing protocols in place, there should be no concerns over his participation in the tournament.

“We have no concerns over [his vaccination status] because the most important thing for us is to follow government policy and protocols. The government here does not require someone to be vaccinated to enter the country. As long as he undergoes PCR testing and those tests are negative, then he can enter. We have PCR