Tennis players have to be vaccinated in order to play the 2022 Australian Open, but not all vaccines are considered equal. Natalia Vikhlyantseva will miss the Grand Slam this time around as she received the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, which has not been approved nor recognized by the Australian government, more specifically the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The Russian world No.194 explains on Twitter that she has always enjoyed playing the Australian Open, but the vaccination protocols are limiting her this time, even though she has taken the jab:
Unfortunately, I will not participate in this year AO event.