Novak Djokovic set to defend Wimbledon title as COVID-19 vaccines not mandatory

Novak Djokovic will be allowed to defend his Wimbledon title after organisers at the All England Club (AELTC) said that players will not need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to compete at the tournament.

Djokovic missed the Australian Open in January due to not being vaccinated, and AELTC CEO Sally Bolton said unvaccinated players will not need to quarantine on arrival ahead of the tournament.

«The requirements set up do not include mandatory vaccination,» Bolton said at a press conference on Tuesday. «It will not be a condition of entry for the championships this year.»

Players will also be allowed to book their own accommodation, rather than staying together in the same hotel like they did in 2021.

Djokovic will first compete at the French Open at Roland Garros as he looks to win his 21st Grand Slam to draw level with Rafael Nadal.

Attention will then turn to the grass court season where Djokovic will be competing for what he hopes will be his seventh Wimbledon title.

Organisers also said that banning Russian and Belarusian players from this year's championships was the only viable option under the guidance provided by the British government.

The AELTC took the decision in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the stand was swiftly condemned by the men's and women's tours.

AELTC Chairman Ian Hewitt said the government guidance did not allow players to compete at the tournament based on their rankings and there were two available options — declining entries, or allowing entries but only with specific written declarations from individual players.

«We believe we have made the most responsible decision possible in the circumstances,» Hewitt told reporters, adding that they are in regular discussions with