Tennis-ATP welcomes court ruling allowing Djokovic to play Australian Open

FILE PHOTO: A supporter of Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rallies outside the Park Hotel, where the star athlete is believed to be held while he stays in Australia, in Melbourne, Australia, January 7, 2022. REUTERS/Loren Elliott

(Reuters) -ATP, the governing body of men's tennis, applauded Monday's Australian court ruling that allowed No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic to remain in Melbourne and compete in next week's Australian Open.

In a statement, the organization said the dispute over Djokovic's COVID-19 vaccine medical exemption and related events were "damaging on all fronts." The situation highlighted the need for clearer understanding and communication of the rules, ATP said.