Djokovic expelled
“There was a political agenda at play here”: First reactions from the tennis world
Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil defends Novak Djokovic
© Christopher Katsarov / Picture Alliance
Tennis player Novak Djokovic has lost the fight against his deportation from Australia. However, stars from the tennis world have his back.
The sensational case has been decided: Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic cannot defend his title at the Australian Open and has to leave the country. In the tennis world, however, Djokovic gets a lot of backing, even if some are happy that the sport will now come back into focus.
Patrick Mouratoglou, best known as Serena Williams’ coach, was pleased that the Djokovic debacle has come to an end. “The big loser in this mess is the tournament. The only good news is that hopefully we will start talking about tennis,” he tweeted.
Vasek Pospisil defends Novak Djokovic
Canadian tennis player Vasek Pospisil defended Djokovic, accusing the Australian government of using the case to advance its own political agenda. On Twitter he wrote:
“Novak would never have traveled to Australia had he not received an exemption from the government to enter the country (which he received; hence Judge Kelly’s original decision). He would have skipped the Australian Open and been at home been with his family and no one would have talked about this mess.
With elections approaching, there was a political agenda at play that could not have been more obvious. It’s not his fault. He has not invaded the country by force and has not ‘played by his own rules’. He was willing to stay at home,” Pospisil wants to know.
French tennis player Alize Cornet also sides with Djokovic. “I don’t know enough to judge the situation, but what I do know is that Novak is always the first to stand up for other players. But none of us stood up for him. Stay strong,” she writes Djokovic.
“The end of a deeply regrettable series of events”
The players’ association ATP also commented on the ruling: “Today’s decision to uphold the cancellation of Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa marks the end of a deeply regrettable series of events,” the statement said.
“Ultimately, decisions by judicial authorities on public health issues must be respected. More time will be needed to take stock of all the facts and learn lessons from this situation. Regardless of how this is achieved, Novak is one of the greatest champions of our sport , and his absence from the Australian Open is a loss to the game.”