Novak Djokovic should disclose reasons for exemption in Melbourne – director of the Australian Open is putting pressure

Even before Novak Djokovic had even set foot on the fifth continent, the new “villain” of Australia met with sheer anger.

“Sick hypocrisy”, a “resounding slap in the face” and an “insult to every Australian” – the media outcry over the exemption for the tennis star was enormous. And the start of the obviously unvaccinated Serb at the Australian Open becomes a political issue at the highest level down under.

Even Australia’s Prime Minister Scott Morrison publicly had doubts about the basis for the medical exemption with which Djokovic wants to hunt for records at the first Grand Slam tournament of the year (from January 17).

“If this evidence is not enough, then he will be treated no differently than everyone else and will be on the next plane home,” said the head of government at a press conference on Wednesday.

Rod Laver is worried

He spoke from the soul of his compatriots, who had to accept immense hardships even for locals during the corona pandemic due to numerous strict lockdowns and strict entry regulations. “For Novak Djokovic there should be no special regulations at all. None at all,” said Morrison – and thus also brought Craig Tiley, tournament director of the Australian Open, into an explanation problem.

Tennis icon Rod Laver put it in the same line: “If he has a good reason we should find out. Yes, you’re a great player and you’ve won so many tournaments so it can’t be physical. So what’s the problem ? ” His concern about the reaction of the fans: “It could get ugly.”

As the newspaper “The Age” reported on Wednesday evening, Australian time, there were some problems with the entry of the Serbs despite the special permit. Djokovic landed shortly before midnight in Melbourne and tried to enter with a visa that does not allow medical exceptions for unvaccinated people.

As the government of the state of Victoria declined support to resolve the problem more quickly, Djokovic’s entry at Tullamarine Airport was delayed. “We will not support Novak Djokovic in applying for an individual visa to participate in the Australian Open,” tweeted Sports Minister Jaala Pulford: “We have always been clear on two points: visa permits are a matter for the federal government and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors . “

Special permit for Djokovic

“Nobody was particularly favored, there was no special treatment for Novak,” defended Tiley, washing his hands in innocence. After all, two medical expert committees independent from the state of Victoria and Tennis Australia, unaware of the name, granted the world number one special permission to start at the Australian Open. Only fully vaccinated professionals are allowed to serve there without special permission.

And yet the tournament boss – also forced by the great public outcry – asked Djokovic to reveal the background. “It would be very helpful if Novak explained the basis on which he applied for and received the waiver,” said Tiley.

The criteria for such a special permit are extremely strict, so that actually only seriously ill people are exempted from the compulsory vaccination – for example because of heart problems or serious operations in the recent past. A corona infection in the past six months also entitles you to a medical exemption.

Press attacks Djokovic sharply

However, only one infection from Djokovic from summer 2020 is known to the public. The 34-year-old defending champion, who wants to crown himself the sole Grand Slam record champion in Melbourne, never published his vaccination status. The Australian border police allegedly want to re-examine the reasons for the exemption for the top athlete.

(SID)