Novak Djokovic will be allowed to play at the French Open even if he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 as long as the coronavirus situation in France remains stable, organisers said on Wednesday.
Russian tennis players, including top-ranked Daniil Medvedev, will also be admitted to play in the tournament but as neutral athletes because of the war started by their country in neighbouring Ukraine.
Organisers said there is nothing at the moment preventing Djokovic from defending his title at the clay-court Grand Slam. France this week lifted measures requiring the need to wear face masks in most settings and allowing people who aren't vaccinated back into restaurants, sports arenas and other venues.
“At this stage, there is nothing to stop him returning to the courts," French Open director Amelie Mauresmo said at a news conference.
Djokovic was deported from Australia in January after a legal battle over whether he should be allowed to enter the country, forcing him to miss the Australian Open. He told the BBC last month that he was willing to miss upcoming Grand Slam tournaments as well if they required him to get vaccinated.
Djokovic has won the French Open twice and has a total of 20 major titles, one short of the record held by Rafael Nadal after the Spaniard won this year's Australian Open.
French tennis federation president Gilles Moretton said that although Djokovic is now free to play, French authorities might be forced to introduce new restrictions if the virus situation deteriorates before the tournament starts on May 22.
“It is not up to us," Moretton said.
“Today there is a little virus that is going around. We are quite confident that the lights are green, but we are all cautious about what has happened over the last two years."
Asked whether Russian tennis players will be allowed to compete at the tournament in the light of the war in Ukraine, organisers said they plan to stick to decisions suspending Russia and ally Belarus but allowing their players to compete as neutral athletes.
The seven groups that run the sport around the world have condemned the war; cancelled events in Russia and Belarus; kicked those two nations out of the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup team competitions; and announced on March 1 that players from those countries will be allowed to compete in WTA, ATP and Grand Slam tournaments but not under the name or flag of Russia or Belarus.
“We are holding this line," said Amelie Oudea-Castera, the French tennis federation director-general.
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