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Novak Djokovic claims he did not say he was “anti-vax” when in Australia “because no one asked me for my stance and opinion on vaccination”.(Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)

Djokovic prepared to miss out on Grand Slam history to avoid vaccination

World number one Novak Djokovic has claimed he is not anti-vaccination but would rather skip Grand Slams than be forced to get a Covid jab.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal poses with the trophy after winning against Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in their men’s singles final match on day fourteen of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne. (Photo by William WEST / AFP)

Nadal ‘doesn’t care’ if he’s best ever after record 21st Slam

The 35-year-old Spaniard roared back from two sets down to defeat Russian second seed Daniil Medvedev in the Australian Open final

Peng Shuai. (Andrew Couldridge/Reuters)

Australian Open to allow ‘Where is Peng Shuai?’ shirts after backlash

Tennis Australia, which organises the Australian Open, reiterated its long-standing policy on Monday of “not allowing banners, signs or clothing that are commercial or political”.

Winner Novak Djokovic of Serbia is congratulated at the net by Rafael Nadal of Spain after their match on Court Philippe-Chatrier during the semi finals of the singles competition at the 2021 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 11th 2021 in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)

Nadal says justice has spoken over Djokovic ‘mess’

The Spanish great also said that he would have preferred it if his rival and defending champion Djokovic had been playing in the first Grand Slam of the year

The visa decision put the Serbian world number one’s dream of a 10th Australian Open title and a record 21st Grand Slam in peril.

Australia cancels Novax Djokovic visa again: immigration minister

Immigration Minister Alex Hawke said he acted on “health and good order grounds on the basis that it was in the public interest to do so”.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices on Rod Laver Arena ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 11, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on Thursday night to play in the upcoming Australian Open and was denied entry to Australia due to his inability to meet Australian entry requirements. He was sent to an immigration detention hotel while the decision to cancel his visa was reviewed in the Australian Federal Circuit Court. Djokovic was granted permission to enter Australia on Monday night and resumed practising soon after with another session this afternoon, while the Federal Government decides if they should still cancel his visa. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Djokovic drawn to play Australian Open as deportation threat looms

The unvaccinated world number one, top seed and defending champion is looking to clinch a 10th title at Melbourne Park.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia is seen during a practice session ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 12, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

Djokovic admits ‘errors’ as he fights to avoid Australian deportation

The world number one said his team had offered fresh information to the Australian government, which is pondering whether to cancel his visa, again, and throw him out of the…

Novak Djokovic of Serbia practices on Rod Laver Arena ahead of the 2022 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 11, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. Djokovic arrived in Melbourne on Thursday night to play in the upcoming Australian Open and was denied entry to Australia due to his inability to meet Australian entry requirements. He was sent to an immigration detention hotel while the decision to cancel his visa was reviewed in the Australian Federal Circuit Court. Djokovic was granted permission to enter Australia on Monday night and resumed practising soon after with another session this afternoon, while the Federal Government decides if they should still cancel his visa. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Djokovic saga throws light on migrants’ ordeal in Australia

For four nights, Melbourne’s infamous ‘alternative place of detention’ for migrants became his abode: no tennis courts, no swimming pool and no leaving

Djokovic trains as Australian Open dream hangs in balance

Doubts have emerged over the accuracy of Djokovic’s travel declaration, reportedly filled out before he flew in from Spain.

World number one Novak Djokovic

Djokovic wins Australia visa case, judge orders his release

In an emergency online court hearing, the judge ordered that the decision to cancel Djokovic’s visa ‘be quashed’

Spanish tennis star Rafael Nadal has tested positive for Covid-19.

Nadal tests positive for Covid in latest blow for tennis legend

The Spanish former world number one said he took the test when he returned to Spain from Abu Dhabi where he took part in an exhibition tournament last week.

Motivated: Kgothatso Montjane first started playing tennis when she was 19 and despite all odds made it to the top. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Q&A Sessions: Montjane: The unlikely tennis star

Kgothatso Montjane speaks to Athandiwe Saba about her becoming the first black woman South African player to reach the Wimbledon final, her ‘robotic’ leg, being a DJ and the love…

Maria Sharapova announced her retirement from tennis this week. (Adam Pretty/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Sharapova ends a career that was stuff of Hollywood

The Russian shot to international fame as a giggly 17-year-old Wimbledon winner in 2004, the third youngest player to conquer the All England Club’s famous grass courts

Young guns: Dominic Thiem will meet Alexander Zverev in the Australian Open semifinals today. (Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Video

Aussie Open may herald new era

“The young guns are missing a bit of guts. A bit of balls. A bit of ‘Okay, I’m here and I want to win and I’m going to do whatever it takes’.” John McEnroe It’s been 19 years…

With bushfires burning around Australia, will the first grand slam of the decade be affected? (Daniel Pockett/Getty)

Will bushfires affect Australian Open tennis?

Here are the implications the Australian fires might have on tennis players as they gear up for the first grand slam of the new decade

Serena Williams serves at the Australian Open in 2017. The former World No?1 is seeded eighth in this year’s US Open, but is aiming to win her home Grand Slam for the seventh time. (Jason Reed/Reuters)

Flushing sorrows: Serena targets 24

Williams is looking to put last year’s US Open final trauma behind her and equal Margaret Court’s record of Grand Slam titles

Williams had suffered life-threatening blood clots when she gave birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia in 2017. (Susan Mullane/USA TODAY Sports)

Serena survives scare at Roland Garros, wins 800th match

Williams won her most recent major at the Australian Open in 2017 while pregnant

Williams had blazed through the early stages of the tournament, seeing off world number one Simona Halep in the fourth round. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters)

Serena knocked out of Australian Open as Pliskova reaches semis

Karolina Pliskova survived four match points in a roller coaster third set that Williams led 5-1 before collapsing to defeat in two hours 10 minutes

Frances Tiafoe of the U.S. in action during the match against Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov. (Reuters/Edgar Su)

Rise of Tsitsipas and Tiafoe — new era or false dawn?

And every 12 months as the first Grand Slam heralds a fresh season they come… and they go.

‘I believe that Chris probably did some good work out there, and I don’t see him doing negative things or enough negative things to not continue in the position,’ says Rafael Nadal. (AFP)

Tensions rise as Nadal backs under-pressure ATP boss

Rafael Nadal says he didn’t believe it is healthy to chop and change the ATP leadership