US Open champion Daniil Medvedev says he is willing to play in the Australian Open but would not commit himself to doing so with only players vaccinated against Covid being allowed to compete.
The 25-year-old Russian said he agrees with world number one Novak Djokovic and that medical records should be confidential and private.
It looks all but certain that only those players who have been vaccinated will be allowed to compete in the first Grand Slam of the season which gets underway in Melbourne on January 17.
Despite a leaked email from the WTA last week suggesting unvaccinated players could quarantine for 14 days, the Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews ruled that out saying no exemptions would be made.
Nine-time Australian Open champion Djokovic is one of many players who have refused to share their vaccination status, casting doubt over whether he will defend his title.
Medvedev did not elaborate on his own status but said he was keen to add back-to-back Slam titles.
Read Also: Dennis : no regrets forcing Brugge exit
“Look I want to play there,” he told a press conference ahead of the Paris Masters, where he is the defending champion, via Zoom. “I always said I really like Novak’s answer which is I want to keep my medical, no matter if it is a head or leg injury, private.
“That is for a reason as tennis is such a brutal sport where you are always one on one with your opponent and any information you give him can go against you.
“I decided at one point to keep my medical information private unless it is obvious.
“So for example if you are playing Australia you are clearly vaccinated.
“I am willing to play in Australia but I won’t say if you will see me there in January.”
Medvedev – who still entertains hopes of replacing Djokovic as world number one by season’s end – said it will be interesting to see who plays in the opening Slam of 2022.