Russian and Belarusian players will be able to compete at the Australian Open as neutrals while Novak Djokovic would also be welcome to play if he can obtain a visa, tournament director Craig Tiley said on Wednesday.
Tennis authorities banned Russian and Belarusian players from international team competitions after Russiaโs invasion of Ukraine earlier this year but allowed them to compete at regular tour events.
The French Open and U.S. Open Grand Slams allowed them to compete as neutrals, though Wimbledon imposed an outright ban.
โAt this point, Russian and Belarusian players will be eligible to play in the Australian Open,โ Tiley told reporters.
โThe only difference will be that they cannot represent Russia โ cannot represent the flag of Russia.
โThey cannot participate in any activity such as the anthem of Russia and they have to play as independent players under a neutral name.
โBut they will be welcome to the Australian Open in January.โ
Belarus has been used as a staging ground for Russiaโs invasion, which Moscow calls a โspecial military operationโ.
Tiley said nine-times Australian Open champion Djokovic would also be eligible if he is able to overturn a visa ban as part of his deportation in January.
The Serbian great was kicked out of the country for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 and is barred from re-entering until 2025, though the Australian government can waive the ban at its discretion.
Tiley said he had not had any contact with the government about Djokovic and that Australian Open organisers could not lobby on the Serbโs behalf.
โAt this point โฆ Novak and the federal government need to work out the situation and then weโll follow any instruction after that,โ Tiley said.
โItโs not a matter we can lobby on. Itโs a matter that definitely stays between the two of them and then depending on the outcome of that we would welcome him to the Australian Open.โ
Djokovic, who also missed the U.S. Open over his vaccination status, said last month he was waiting for โpositive newsโ from Australian authorities. Read full story
However, Australiaโs former Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews, an opposition lawmaker, said this week she was opposed to the government lifting Djokovicโs ban, saying it would be a โslap in the faceโ for Australians who have been vaccinated.
