Novak Djokovic has remained coy around his Australian Open status and refused to reveal whether he's been vaccinated against COVID-19.
It comes after Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews declared on Tuesday unvaccinated overseas players wouldn't be granted special dispensations to travel to Australia for the tournament in January.
The Victorian government has introduced a vaccine mandate for all professional local sportspeople, and while this doesn't yet incorporate international competitors, Andrews has flagged tighter measures ahead of the state's re-opening this week.
It's raised questions about whether Djokovic, the defending champion and nine-time winner of the Australian Open, would participate in the first Grand Slam of the year, given his outspoken stance against vaccinations.
The World No. 1 said he expects to make a decision in the next two weeks as he and his camp await further information from tournament organisers.
However, he's refused to reveal his vaccination status.
“Things beings as they are, I still don’t know if I will go to Melbourne,” Djokovic told Serbian publication Blic.
“I will not reveal my status whether I have been vaccinated or not, it is a private matter and an inappropriate inquiry.
“People go too far these days in taking the liberty to ask questions and judge a person. Whatever you say ‘yes, no, maybe, I am thinking about it,’ they will take advantage.”
“Of course I want to go, Australia is my most successful grand slam tournament. I want to compete, I love this sport and I am still motivated.
“I am following the situation regarding the Australian Open and I understand the final decision (on Covid-related restrictions) will be made in two weeks. I believe there will be a lot of restrictions just like this year, but I doubt there will be too many changes.
“My manager, who is in contact with the Australian Tennis Federation, tells me they are trying to improve the conditions for everyone, both for those who have been vaccinated and those who have not.”
Chasing a 10th Australian Open title and sitting one Grand Slam away from eclipsing Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as the highest-ever Grand Slam winner, Djokovic will be a major drawcard for next year's tournament.
But Premier Andrews has indicated no special considerations will be offered to any overseas tennis stars who haven't received both doses of the vaccine.
"I don't think an unvaccinated tennis player is going to get a visa to come into this country," he told reporters on Tuesday.
"If they did get a visa, they'd probably have to quarantine for a couple of weeks when no other players will have to.
"AFL players have to be vaccinated, but they're Aussies, they're not coming from other countries.
"I don't think any other tennis player, or golfer, or Formula One driver, will even get a visa to get here.
"Professional sport is part of that authorised worker list and they have to be double dose vaccinated."
Journo: Does that mean someone like Djokovic can't come here for the AUS Open?
— Dean Rosario (@DeanRosario) October 19, 2021
DA: Visas are handed out by the FedGovt & I don't think they'll be handing out visas to people who are NOT fully vaccinated unless they commit to do 14 days Quarantine. pic.twitter.com/4R78zQ2vgD
Djokovic's last tournament was the US Open in August, where his bid to win all four Grand Slams in the calendar year was denied when he lost to Russian Danil Medvedev in the final.
The 34-year-old has indicated he'll play in the Paris Masters, the ATP Finals in Turin and the Davis Cup before the end of 2021.