'No one knew who the applicant was': No 'special treatment' in Djokovic medical exemption

Tennis Australia CEO Craig Tiley has defended the integrity of the process which has allowed tennis star Novak Djokovic an exemption to compete at the Australian Open.

Mr Tiley explained Mr Djokovic was one of 26 "blind applicants" assessed by an independent panel of epidemiologists and doctors before proceeding to a second panel set up by the government for further assessment.

"No one knew who the applicant was," Mr Tiley told a media conference on Wednesday.

"There were 26 applicants through the process – there's a handful which were provided with an exemption and that information only gets disclosed by those individuals on the grounds of which they were provided an exemption," Mr Tiley said.

"That's personal, private, confidential medical information that we are not at liberty to share publicly – but it's very clear on the ATAGI guidelines ... on what conditions you'd receive an exemption on."

Victoria's Acting Sports Minister Jaala Pulford gave "assurance" no "special treatment" was given in this case.

"I want to make absolutely clear ... no one is or will be receiving special treatment because of who they are or what they achieved professionally," she said.