Depriving world number one Novak Djokovic of an Australian visa is an outrage. Thus, the honored tennis coach of Russia Vladimir Kamelzon reacted to the situation in an interview with a Lenta.ru correspondent.
“I have been involved in tennis all my life, including the organization of tournaments, but in this situation I do not understand anything. Even the lawyers I know can’t explain to me what’s going on. The court decided that Djokovic did not violate anything, now this fuss begins anew. Apparently, here everything is decided by the bureaucratic ambitions of Australian politicians. Let the whole of Australia be offended by me, but they cut the branch on which they sit, ”said Kamelzon.
The coach stressed that what is happening causes irreparable reputational damage for the organizers of the Australian Open, and for the country as a whole. “Tennis is watched by the whole world, and Novak is a star of the first magnitude. Behind him is a huge team and a whole country. The way they treat him is a disgrace. In his place, after the first imprisonment in a hotel in unclear conditions, I would immediately fly home, but Djokovic, in spite of everything, still wants to play at the Australian Open, ”said Kamelzon.
The coach also said that he himself, against the backdrop of the coronavirus pandemic, refused to travel abroad. “Every country has its own rules. I’m afraid that upon arrival at the airport, they will start demanding something from me that I don’t have, ”the specialist added.
Earlier on Friday, January 14, it became known about the annulment of Djokovic’s visa and his imminent deportation from Australia. The decision was made personally by Immigration Minister Alex Hawke. The tennis player’s lawyers plan to appeal against him.
On January 10, Djokovic won an appeal to be deported from Australia. The court agreed with the assertion that the Serb provided all documents for entry into Australia. Prior to that, he was denied entry because his visa did not include data on a medical exemption from vaccination against COVID-19. The Australian Open will take place from 17 to 30 January.
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