All participants of the Australian Open, which begins on January 17, must be vaccinated against covid-19.
The Australian border authorities canceled Novak Djokovic’s entry visa to the country, hours after the world number 1 was withheld upon his arrival in Melbourne, a fact that was considered as “mistreatment” by the Serbian president.
If he is finally deported, the Serbian tennis player would be left without the possibility of playing, as of January 17, the Australian Open, where he was looking for his 10th title and breaking the Grand Slams record that he now shares with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal ( all three with 20).
The Serbian, who in the past was reluctant to be vaccinated against covid-19 and has repeatedly refused to confirm whether he was inoculated, had obtained a “medical derogation” to be able to participate in the first Grand Slam of the season, a tournament that has conquered nine times.
Novak Djokovic will be deported and will not be able to participate in the Australian Open
This caused the rejection of the press, the population and even the Australian political class, who accused those responsible for treating the Serbian in favor.
According to the Australian press, the nine-time Australian Open champion, who took the plane to Melbourne on Tuesday, would not have filled out the correct form for the type of visa requested.
“Mr. Djokovic did not provide adequate evidence to meet Australia entry requirements and his visa was canceled,” the Australian Border Force announced in a statement.
“Non-citizens who do not have a valid entry visa or whose visa has been canceled will be detained and expelled from Australia,” added border authorities.
Novak Djokovic was detained at the Australian border for an error in his visa
“The Australian Border Force will continue to ensure that all those who arrive at our border comply with our laws and entry requirements,” they insisted in the statement.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison had already warned before the Serbian tennis player’s arrival in Melbourne that if the reasons for Djokovic’s exemption were “insufficient”, the Serbian would be “on the next plane back” home.
All participants in the Australian Open, which begins on January 17, must be vaccinated against covid-19 or have an exemption granted by two independent expert committees.
In statements to the Australian channel Channel Nine, the head of the tournament, Craig Tiley, assured that 26 people of the almost 3,000 players and technical personnel who traveled to Australia for the competition had requested a repeal, but only a handful got it.
“Anyone who meets the conditions has been allowed to come. There were no special favors. There is no special opportunity for Novak, “Tiley said.
Tiley also urged the tennis player to reveal the reason for his medical leave. “It would be really helpful if Novak explains the conditions for which he has requested and obtained a medical exemption,” he said.
One of the conditions that allowed entry without vaccination is that the applicant had had covid-19 in the last six months. It is not clear that this is the case for Djokovic.
A conflict between both countries
Shortly before knowing the cancellation of Djokovic’s visa, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic accused the Australian authorities of “mistreating” the number one in world tennis.
In a message on Instagram, Vucic assured that “all of Serbia is with him and our authorities are studying all measures so that this mistreatment of the best tennis player in the world ends as soon as possible.”
Earlier, the tennis player’s father, Srdjan Djokovic, assured that his son “has been captive for five hours” in Melbourne and that he had “no idea what is happening,” in statements to the Sputnik Serbia channel.
Novak Djokovic: fury in Australia over the exemption from vaccinating the Serbian tennis player to participate in the Open
“This is a fight for freedom in the world, it is not just a fight for Novak, but a fight for the whole world,” added the father, who even threatened protests in the streets if his son was not released “in half an hour. ”.
Later, when the cancellation of the visa was known, Srdjan Djokovic wrote a message on Instagram: Deportation! Our pride, our Novak is making a comeback… we should all give him the welcome he deserves! ”
But the decision to allow Djokovic’s entry had sparked outrage in Australia, whose residents have been subjected to significant restrictions, lockdowns and border closures for much of the past two years.
It also generated surprise in some tennis players, such as the British doubles player Jamie Murray, who is contesting the ATP Cup in Sydney. “I think that if I were the one who is not vaccinated, I would not receive the exemption,” he claimed.
Doctor Stephen Parnis, former vice president of the Australian Medical Association, said the decision sends a negative message to people fighting the spread of COVID-19.
“I don’t care how good a tennis player he is. If he refuses to be vaccinated, he should not be allowed in, ”Parnis said on Twitter.
Djokovic voiced his opposition to the coronavirus vaccine in April 2020, when it was raised that it might be mandatory to resume tournaments.
“Personally I am not provaccine,” Djokovic declared then. “I do not want someone to force me to be vaccinated to travel.” (I)
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