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Besides all of the hype surrounding the incredible season that Nadal has had so far, there is another topic that tennis fans are constantly addressing. As you can see from the title, this topic is Djokovic and the ongoing vaccine saga. Obviously, he missed the Australian Open due to his vaccine stance. And many thought that this decision could well ruin his career. But now, with the relaxation of various restrictions in Europe, he could well be back in action before we know it.
With the French Open being the next Grand Slam in line, let’s take a moment to focus on this one. As things currently stand, the answer is yes. Djokovic will indeed be able to compete at the 2022 French Open. If that answer has come as a shock, please read through the remaining information to see why this is the case.
Djokovic Set to Defend French Open Title This Summer
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Before I get into the ins and outs of why he will be able to compete, I must still stress – Djokovic is still against the jab and he is not vaccinated. So while he will be able to play at the French Open, this could still impact his ability to compete in other events. With that cleared up, let me now reveal why he is on track to play at the French.
France Relaxation of COVID Measures
During the pandemic, France has had some of the toughest measures out there relating to what is now dubbed as the ‘COVID pass’. Of course, with this being a requirement, the mandate for vaccines was also a factor for entering France. This is the primary hurdle that has prevented Djokovic from competing in several tournaments to date. But as things stand right now, France has removed the mandatory COVID pass.
This has been the case since March 14th – a little over a week, at the time of writing. Of course, this is huge news for Novak Djokovic. However, it is still expected that a health check will be required to compete. I’m fairly confident in stating that the ‘health check’ will involve testing to enter the country. And I’m assuming it will involve regular testing throughout the event.
His Level of Prestige for Roland Garros
This second part may seem a little controversial, but I really do feel that it is a factor. Over in Australia, it was particularly clear that nobody is above the rules. After all, the guy was deported, despite the fact that he has won the Australian Open nine times. But in France, there is one thing that sticks in my mind. During the Nadal match last year, the French president actually called the tournament organizer to keep fans inside the stadium past the curfew.
This was a direct contradiction of the COVID rules at the time. But it was done in the best interests of the sport. And this came from the very top. So even if things take a turn for the worse between now and Roland Garros, I still feel that Djokovic will be allowed to play!
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