The exemption for Novak Djokovic for the Australian Open is causing a stir. The tennis star is held up at the airport for a long time, and finally his visa is revoked. But the Serb is fighting back – and even his president is helping him.
Shortly after landing in Melbourne on Wednesday evening (local time), the farce about tennis superstar Novak Djokovic took a sudden turn. Despite his controversial medical exemption for the start at the Australian Open, the border guards refused entry to the probably unvaccinated Serb because his visa was obviously invalid, and instead had him taken to a hotel for people obliged to leave the country. A few hours later, the Australian government of Djokovic canceled the visa. The world number 1 tennis player was told that she would have to leave Australia on Thursday.
“The visa for Novak Djokovic has been canceled,” confirmed Australia’s Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday morning. Djokovic was unable to demonstrate that he met the entry requirements, so “the visa was subsequently canceled,” said the statement from the border protection authority. According to the media, the documents that the 34-year-old had submitted did not provide for medical exemptions for unvaccinated people.
Novak Djokovic appeals against deportation
But Djokovic fights his deportation from Australia practically at the last minute. His lawyers appealed against the visa revocation before a court in Melbourne on Thursday afternoon, as the Australian news portal “The Age” reported. Accordingly, they are still looking for documents and should be heard by Judge Anthony Kelly during the day.
In Serbia, the news of Djokovic’s treatment caused a public outcry. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Instagram that he had spoken to Djokovic on the phone and told him that “all of Serbia is with him”. The Serbian authorities would “take all measures to stop the abuse of the best tennis player in the world as soon as possible”. In accordance with “all norms of international public law”, Serbia will fight for “Novak Djokovic, for justice and truth”. Otherwise the tennis player is “strong as we all know him,” added the president.
Djokovic, who had repeatedly criticized corona vaccinations, was detained at an airport in Melbourne for several hours after arriving in Australia on Wednesday after the Australian border protection authorities had raised concerns about the entry visa. His son was held in a guarded room, his father Srdjan Djokovic told the Internet portal B92. “Novak is currently in a room that no one can enter,” he said. “There are two policemen outside the room,” he added.
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Srdjan Djokovic told the Serbian news portal “Sputnik” that his son had been “detained at the airport for five hours”. He has “no idea what’s going on here”. What happened to his son was “not just a fight for Novak, but for the whole world”. He later wrote the word “Deportation!” On the Instagram platform after the Australian authorities refused entry to the tennis professional. “Our pride, our Novak returns … we should all welcome him as he deserves!”
“Slap in the Face for Millions of Australians”
Even before the 34-year-old arrived in Australia, a wave of indignation had built up in the host country of the first Grand Slam tournament of the season. The exception permission for Djokovic caused “anger and confusion”, as the broadcaster ABC called it. Other comments ranged from “slap in the face for all Australians” to “slap in the face for millions of Australians”. Tournament director Craig Tiley defended the controversial decision, but asked the 20-time Grand Slam winner to give his reasons.
“I was also absolutely surprised,” said the German Davis Cup captain Michael Kohlmann on Wednesday of the German press agency. “There are still many question marks. Hopefully they will be answered in the next few days and weeks before the start.” The tournament starts on January 17th in Melbourne. Only players who have been vaccinated against the coronavirus or who have received a medical exemption are allowed to take part.
On Tuesday, after weeks of silence and hesitation, Djokovic announced that he would now fly to Australia thanks to precisely such a special permit. He has not yet made his vaccination status public.
Given the buzz surrounding Djokovic’s start, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has called for sufficient evidence for the medical exception. “He has to do that because if he is not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable evidence that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons in order to have access to the same travel rules as fully vaccinated travelers,” said Morrison. Otherwise Djokovic will be “on the first plane home”.
Interior Minister Karen Andrews also spoke plainly: “Every person who wants to enter Australia has to comply with our strict border regulations,” she stressed. The Victoria State Regional Government and Tennis Australia could allow an unvaccinated player to participate in the tournament, but the border rules would be monitored by the national government.
Australian Open boss Tiley defends Djokovic
And these rules are and were strict in times of pandemics. “I don’t care how good he is as a tennis player. If he refuses to be vaccinated, he shouldn’t be let in,” said Victoria celebrity doctor Stephen Parnis. The permit is “a terrifying message” to millions of Australians.
“It is sad for the people of this country who have repeatedly been denied international and interstate travel during this pandemic, even to see their loved ones dying. For those who have been separated from their children or are unable to attend the funeral of a close friend or family member “The Canberra Times wrote,” and concluded: “Unfortunately, the rules are different when you’re a global sports superstar.”
“The medical exemption for Novak Djokovic to play the Australian Open is a sick hypocrisy,” wrote the Australian newspaper “The Herald Sun”. “His participation is an insult to any Australian who has gone through hell because of Covid.”
Tournament boss Tiley tried to dispel exactly these allegations. The permit was granted after a strict review by two independent expert bodies. Djokovic made a “completely legitimate application” and went through the necessary process. At the same time, however, Tiley asked Djokovic to reveal the reasons.
“I would like him to speak to the community. I would appreciate getting answers,” Tiley said. 26 professionals or supervisors would have applied for an exemption, only a handful actually received it.
Djokovic has already won the Australian Open nine times and was determined to compete this time as the defending champion. If he had won, he would have left his rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal behind with Grand Slam triumph number 21.