Sports minister says Djokovic can compete at Italian Open

Novak Djokovic will be allowed to compete at the Italian Open despite not being vaccinated, Italian sports ministerValentina Vezzali said on Thursday, Reuters reported. 

Speaking to an Italian media outlet, Vezzali noted the tournament will be outdoors and said the Serbian tennis star will be allowed to participate. 

Italy’s government earlier this month lifted restrictions on a mask mandate outdoors due to an improving COVID-19 situation, according to Reuters.  

“It is an outdoor sport and the tighter green pass is not required,” Vezzali said. “So if Djokovic wants to come to Italy to play, he will be able to do so. Maybe without visiting hotels and restaurants.”

Djokovic made headlines earlier this year when the Australian government barred him from taking part in the Australian Open after initially giving him an exemption to play despite his not being vaccinated. 

Fellow tennis star Rafael Nadal ended up winning the tournament, giving him a lead on Djokovic in the competition to win the most Grand Slam tournaments. The Italian Open is not a Grand Slam tournament.

In an interview with BBC News on Tuesday, Djokovic, the top-ranked male tennis player in the world, said he will skip the French and Wimbledon opens this year if they require a vaccine mandate. Both are Grand Slam tournaments.

Djokovic added he plans to remain unvaccinated, even though his current status could force him to forgo competing in major tournaments. 

“Based on all the information that I got, I decided not to take the vaccine, as of today. I understand the consequences of my decision,” Djokovic told BBC. “I understand that not being vaccinated today, you know, I am unable to travel to most of the tournaments at the moment.”