Novak Djokovic will play Tokyo Olympics – only if fans allowed

World No 1 Novak Djokovic said on Thursday that he would reconsider taking part in the Tokyo Olympics if spectators were banned from attending.

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The world number one’s reaction came after calls grew in Japan for the Games to take place behind closed doors, with one doctors’ association saying the event should be cancelled altogether. 

“I plan on playing in the Olympics, as long as fans are allowed,” Novak Djokovic said in a press conference.

“If not, I’d think twice about participating.”

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Novak Djokovic is not the first tennis star to express doubts over the rescheduled Olympics – Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams recently said they were unsure whether they would compete.

Roger Federer said athletes needed a firm decision on whether the event is going ahead, adding he was still in two minds.

Japanese stars Naomi Osaka and Kei Nishikori have both raised concerns about whether Tokyo should be hosting the Games at all.

Medical groups have warned the massive event could introduce new variants to Japan even as parts of Japan, including capital Tokyo, are still under states of emergency.

Haruo Ozaki, chairperson of the Tokyo Medical Association, said on Thursday that holding the Games without spectators “is the bare minimum given the current situation”.

“This is the Olympics in a time of emergency,” he said at a press conference.

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Organisers have already barred overseas fans, while a decision on domestic spectators is expected in late June.

Tokyo’s current virus restrictions allow venues to have up to 5 000 fans or 50 percent capacity, whichever is fewer.

Novak Djokovic was speaking after he booked his place in the semi-finals in the Belgrade tournament with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Federico Coria, a victory that puts him fifth on the list of Open era wins.

The 56-minute demolition of the 96th ranked Argentine took Djokovic to 952 wins, putting him one ahead of Guillermo Vilas.

“It was a great performance,” said Djokovic, who is tuning up for the French Open which begins in Paris on Sunday. 

“And probably one of the best matches, if not the best match, I played this year. I felt fantastic on the court from the first point.”

Djokovic will face qualifier Andrej Martin in the semi-finals. 

He improved to 18-3 for the season and is attempting to reach his third final of the year. 

Djokovic won the Australian Open for a ninth time but lost the Italian Open final on clay to Nadal.

Vilas, also an Argentine, played professionally between 1969 and 1992, reaching eight major finals, winning four.

He was a four-time French Open finalist, winning in 1977 with a straight sets demolition of the American Brian Gottfried.