Novak Djokovic at the Centre of Vaccination Exemption Storm, Australians Aren’t Happy With World Number 1

• Novak Djokovic will be looking to defend his Australian Open title after being given an exemption but Australians aren't happy
• Many Australians feel that Djokovic is getting special treatment due to his star status and therefore doesn't need to abide by Covid19 regulations
• All players and staff at the Australian Open need to be vaccinated or provided with an exemption, which Djokovic received

Tennis superstar and world number one Novak Djokovic has attracted the ire of many Australians after news broke that he would be competing in the upcoming Australian Open.

Djokovic is currently the defending Australian Open champion, having beaten Daniil Medvedev in last year's final.

Djokovic took to Twitter to recently announce that he will be heading to the tournament after being given a vaccination exemption. The Australian Open begins on 17 January.

All players and staff at this year's tournament must either be vaccinated or have an exemption granted to them by an expert independent panel, BBC News confirmed.

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The decision has angered many Australians who experienced some of the harshest lockdown regulations around the world. Many felt that Djokovic was getting special treatment because of his stature while many Australians were still suffering the effects of the pandemic.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said that Djokovic could 'be on the next plane home' if he failed to provide evidence that he was vaccinated against Covid19. Djokovic has said in the past that he is opposed to vaccination.

Social media reacts to news that Djokovic will compete in the Australian Open

You can always count on Twitter for some snappy responses. Twitter users took to social media to voice their say about Dojokovic's exemption and admittance into the tournament.

@MattWalshMedia:

"Whoever knocks Djokovic out of the #AusOpen may never need to buy a beer In Australia ever again."

@DrKate_Miller:

"After everything Victorians have been through, Novak Djokovic getting a vaccine exemption is nothing short of a kick in the guts. All those lockdowns, all that suffering. Seriously? #auspol"

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@BenDavisCP:

"Novak Djokovic did nothing wrong. He just exposed the government's gross hypocrisy."

@ivtmc03:

As an Australian, I am so incredibly embarrassed seeing calls to boo Djokovic. All the hate being spat towards him is insane - he followed the rules. Throw your hate towards our government. They are the ones who ruined our lives for two whole years. We need to be better"

Naomi Osaka: Tennis star makes a bold promise on return to court after a four-month break

In other tennis related news, 24-year old reigning Australia Open champion Naomi Osaka took a three-month break from the sport after defeat in the third round in September US Open, Sports Brief reported.

"I only really have one major goal this year, and it's completely unrelated to results and stuff like that. For me, I just want to feel like every time I step on the court I'm having fun. I can walk off the court knowing that even if I lost, I tried as hard as I could," she said.

On her return, she was far from her best but despite unforced errors, still managed to beat her rival France's Alize Cornet 6-4 3-6 6-3. In 2021, Osaka skipped both the French Open and Wimbledon after causing a stir when she refused to partake in media duties during Roland Garros.