World number one Novak Djokovic has been “playing by his own rules” and has put his bid for a 21st Grand Slam title at risk by not following Australia’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements, world number four Stefanos Tsitsipas said on Thursday.

Djokovic was included in the Australian Open draw on Thursday, though uncertainty hangs over his participation with the government yet to decide whether to cancel his visa for a second time over concerns about his medical exemption from Australia’s vaccine mandate.

The 34-year-old, a vaccine sceptic, fuelled widespread anger in Australia when he announced he was heading to Melbourne with a medical exemption from requirements for visitors to be inoculated against COVID-19.

In Premium | Rabada vs Kohli duel brings back memories of the classic Tendulkar vs Steyn face-off

The Australian Border Force said his exemption was invalid and he was held at an immigration detention hotel, but a court later allowed him to stay on grounds that officials had been “unreasonable” at his interview in a seven-hour process in the middle of the night.

“For sure, he’s been playing by his own rules and has been doing what not many players had the guts to do, especially after the ATP announced certain criteria for players to enter the country,” Greece’s Tsitsipas told India’s WION news channel.

Top Sports News Now

• ‘The name of the game is intimidation’: Hungry Gukesh takes on resurgent Magnus Carlsen
• Vidit wins 4-2 against Nepomniachtchi to complete Indian quartet in FIDE WC quarters
• Neymar joins exodus from Europe for ‘greener’ pastures in Saudi Arabia

Click here for more

“No one really thought they could come to Australia unvaccinated and not having to follow the protocols it takes a lot of daring to do and putting the Grand Slam at risk, which I don’t think many players would do.”

The ATP, which governs men’s tennis, has said 97 of the top 100 male players are vaccinated. American world number 93 Tennys Sandgren told reporters earlier this month that he had pulled out of the Australian Open due to the vaccine mandate and he opted not to apply for a medical exemption.

Also Read

Watch: Jannik Sinner wins a 46-shot rally against Tommy Paul

Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz set to meet again in group stage of Dav...

Does Steffi Graf ever age? Husband Andre Agassi has the perfect reply

'Never been friends, never been close to Roger Federer': Novak Djokovic s...Advertisement

Asked if Djokovic should defend his title at Melbourne Park next week as his visa saga continues, Tsitsipas said: “There are two ways to look at it. One side of it is that almost every single player is fully vaccinated and have followed the protocols to play in Australia.”On the other hand, it seems not everyone is playing by the rules a very small majority chose to follow their own way, which kind of makes the majority look like fools.”