Novak Djokovic could be barred from playing at Roland Garros under current rules after the sports ministry said on Monday that elite sportspeople would need to be vaccinated to perform in France.
The ministry said a new vaccine pass, approved by the French parliament on Sunday, "applies to everyone, to volunteers and to elite sportspeople, including those coming from abroad, until further notice."
The unvaccinated Djokovic was deported from Australia on Sunday before the Australian Open — the first Grand Slam tournament of the year — after failing in a court battle to have the cancellation of his visa overturned.
The French move appears to contradict Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu's assertion last week that certain events like the French Open had a special exemption which could allow Djokovic to play in the tournament without being vaccinated against coronavirus.
Major events like the French Open previously permitted unvaccinated athletes to compete as they operated a health bubble around the tournament.
If no exemption is possible, the measure would dash the 34-year-old Serb's hopes of defending his title and potentially winning an unprecedented 21st Grand Slam singles crown.
