A “very small percentage” of tennis professionals and staff will be granted medical exemptions from being COVID vaxxed, which will enable them to travel here for next month’s Australian Open, tournament boss Craig Tiley said yesterday. Those granted an exemption will not be required to quarantine, but international arrivals will be required to get a COVID test 72 hours before flying, submit a negative test upon arrival, and continue getting tests during their stay. It has boosted confidence that men’s world #1 Novak Djokovic – who has previously refused to confirm if he’s had the jab – will be seeking a 10th Oz Open title next year. “If Novak shows up at the Australian Open, he’ll either be vaccinated or he’ll have a medical exemption,” Tiley says. World #6 Rafael Nadal is also likely to make an appearance, he reckons, even though he confirmed he currently has COVID. Despite Omicron concerns, Tiley says he doesn’t expect major disruptions to the tournament.