The ball is back in Novak Djokovic's court. Australian Open chief Craig Tiley confirmed on Saturday that everyone who attends the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2022 will need to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, including all the players. That continues to leave the status of defending and nine-time champion Djokovic in question. Djokovic, who has refused to say if he's vaccinated, would be attempting to win a record 21st Grand Slam singles title. The tournament is scheduled for Jan. 17-30. The Victorian state government had earlier said only vaccinated persons would be allowed into the site for the tournament, and Tiley reiterated that on Saturday.

'Everyone on site, the fans, all the staff, the players, will need to be vaccinated,' Tiley said at the tournament's official launch. 'There's been a lot of speculation about Novak's position, he's said it's a private matter. 'We would love to see Novak here, but he knows he needs to be vaccinated in order to play. He's always said that the Australian Open is the event that puts the wind in his sails." Tiley said the no-vaccine, no-play edict was made by the Victorian state government in late October.