In a statement titled “Australia’s border rules apply to everyone”, Andrews said: “Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with our strict border requirements.

“While the Victorian Government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth Government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border.

“Since Dec 15 2021 fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can travel to Australia without needing to apply for a travel exemption, and enter eligible states and territories quarantine free.

“If an arriving individual is not vaccinated, they must provide acceptable proof that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons to be able to access the same travel arrangement as fully vaccinated travellers.

“Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that those who arrive at our border comply with our strict border requirements.”

The Association of Tennis Professionals said last week that 95 of the world’s top 100 had been vaccinated against Covid. But Djokovic appears to be an exception. 

Unsurprisingly, there was a feeling that the world number one might be receiving preferential treatment on account of his huge profile and standing within the game. “I think if it was me that wasn’t vaccinated, I wouldn’t be getting an exemption,” said the British doubles specialist Jamie Murray.

Tennis Australia chief executive under mounting pressure over decision to permit Djokovic to play at the Australian Open

The chief executive of Tennis Australia was on Thursday night under mounting pressure over the decision to permit Novak Djokovic to play at the Australian Open after letters emerged showing the government twice warned him those who had not been vaccinated against coronavirus would be refused quarantine-free entry to the country.

Craig Tiley was already facing questions about Djokovic being granted a “medical exemption” from having to have been jabbed to take part in the first grand slam of the year after the world number one was told he was being deported for failing to provide “appropriate evidence” he warranted such an exemption.

Tiley had repeatedly defended the decision which, according to a briefing document published in November by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation, should have been based on one or more of the following criteria: a) an acute medical condition, b) Covid infection within the last six months, c) an adverse reaction to a previous vaccine, or d) if the vaccinee is a risk to themselves or others during the vaccination process.

Amid multiple reports that Djokovic’s exemption was granted solely because he submitted evidence of a recent bout of the illness, two letters were leaked – also from November – from federal health authorities to Tiley stressing this alone would not be enough to ensure quarantine-free entry.