Stefanos Tsitsipas feels Novak Djokovic has been 'playing by his own rules' when it comes to COVID-19 vaccination and his visa requirements for the Australian Open.
Djokovic's future in Australia is unclear with the world no.1 waiting on a decision from Immigration Minister Alex Hawke on whether his visa will be cancelled on the basis that he is an unvaccinated traveller in the country .
The 34-year-old originally had his visa cancelled on arrival in Melbourne , but saw his travel document reinstated following a court hearing, and was subsequently named in Thursday's Australian Open draw as he attempts to win the event for a 10th time.
World no.4 Tsitsipas, who is vaccinated but was previously hesitant about taking the vaccine, believes Djokovic has been running his own race and is jeopardizing the Australian Open without consideration to others.
"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," Tsitsipas said.
"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."
Tsitsipas feels the minority of unvaccinated players have made the rest look like 'fools' in not following the regulations for entrance to Australia and to play in the Australian Open.
"The stats say 98 per cent of players have been vaccinated and did what they had to do in order to come and perform and play in Australia,” Tsitsipas said.
"[But] not everyone is playing by the rules of how Tennis Australia and the government have been putting things.
"A very small group chose to follow their own way and it kind of makes the majority look like they’re all fools or something."
The ATP have said 97 of the top 100 men's players in the world are vaccinated, with Djokovic and world no.93 Tennys Sandgren the only two publicly known.
Tsitsipas has been drawn to play Sweden's Mikael Ymer in the first round of the Australian Open, beginning on Monday.
