Novak Djokovic retirement fears raised with 'it very difficult for him to continue'

Novak Djokovic could be forced to get vaccinated or retire. The world No 1 looked set to miss the Australian Open when it became mandatory for all players to be fully jabbed but was granted a medical exemption by Tennis Australia. But the Immigration Minister decided to cancel his visa on the grounds that his presence could "excite anti-vax" sentiment and he was booted out of the country on the eve of the tournament.

Djokovic had been in doubt for the Australian Open for several months as ministers backed a vaccine mandate, later confirmed by Tennis Australia.

But the Aussie tennis body granted their nine-time champion a medical exemption, though he had his visa cancelled at the border for failing to provide enough proof, holding evidence from just one doctor.

While the decision was quashed in an appeal as the federal government admitted they treated Djokovic unfairly in failing to give him more time to prove the exemption, Alex Hawke used his personal ministerial powers to cancel the Serb's visa for a second time, a decision upheld in a Federal Court appeal hearing held the day before the tournament.

It meant the world No 1 was deported from the country on the eve of his first match in Melbourne, replaced in the draw by a lucky loser and denied the chance to compete for a record 21st Major title.

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A number of tournaments have appeared to follow suit, with talks that Djokovic could find himself banned from the French Open and US Open, while the ATP Tour looks set to implement a series of restrictions that would see unvaccinated players banned from locker rooms and other on-site facilities at the select tournaments they are allowed to enter.

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