Number 1 of the World Novak DjokovicHis hopes of winning his 10th Australian Open title in 2022 went up in smoke next Thursday he was refused entry to Australia. Djokovic arrived in Melbourne late on Wednesday night, just a week and a half before the first Grand Slam of the year. The 34-year-old received a medical exemption from the country’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements in order to compete in the league, but on an odd day when he was detained for eight hours at the airport, the His real estate was ultimately denied.
“Mr Djokovic’s visa has been cancelled,” Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison tweeted. “The rules are the rules, especially when it comes to our borders. No one is above these rules.”
In an interview on Thursday morning, Australia’s Minister of Health Greg Hunt says Djokovic failed to present the “appropriate standards of proof” to grant exemptions to border officials.
For months, there have been speculations about Djokovic’s condition for the first Grand Slam of the year due to his alleged reluctance to get vaccinated. He has never made it public whether or not he has been vaccinated, but has repeatedly called it a “personal decision” and a “private matter”.
Finally, earlier this week, he announced that he would be competing in the tournament and was on his way to Australia. But after days of public criticism over his immunity decision and a night of confusion, it remains unclear whether he will immediately leave the country or try to appeal the ruling and stay in a quarantine hotel. near.
So, how exactly did this happen, and what does this mean for Djokovic and the tournament? Here’s what we know so far.
First of all, is a vaccine necessary for the tennis players at the Australian Open 2022?
The short answer is yes. All players – as well as everyone on the pitch at Melbourne Park – must have a full dose of COVID-19 vaccine (meaning a series of at least two shots in most cases) to participate.
A person can apply for an exemption if they meet any guidance recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunization, including evidence of COVID-19 infection in the past six months, a “serious side effect” from a previous dose of vaccine, or an acute severe illness.
Tournament director Craig Tiley said 26 people involved in the event – including Djokovic – applied for an exemption and only a “few” were approved.
Why is Djokovic exempt?
Due to privacy laws, we don’t know for sure. Djokovic tested positive for the virus in June 2020, but there have been no reports of further infection.
Tiley said Djokovic received no special treatment and that each application is reviewed by two independent panels with names edited to ensure privacy. Tiley calls it “completely legit apps and processes.”
Djokovic had previously withdrawn from this week’s ATP Cup in Sydney, leading to speculation that he would not compete at the Australian Open. But on Tuesday he revealed on Instagram he went to Australia for the tournament. “I’m going down Under with a disclaimer today,” he wrote.
Looks like Djokovic has been approved by the league, so why can’t he compete?
Djokovic has been exempted by Tennis Australia (not the Australian government), but submitted the wrong type of visa for his border entry, and it is not valid for an unvaccinated person. As a result, he was stopped on arrival at Melbourne airport around 11:30pm local time on Wednesday night. According to Srdjan, Djokovic’s father Djokovic was isolated in his room overnight while speaking to Australian Border Force officials.
“Novak is currently in a room no one can enter” Srdjan told B92, a Serbian media organization. “In front of the room are two policemen.”
Goran Ivanisevic, Djokovic’s coach, posted an early morning photo from what appears to be the airport, with Djokovic’s physiotherapist Ulises Badio. The caption reads: “Not the most ordinary trip Down Under”, accompanied by a series of emojis.
Each Paul Sakkal of the Times, a Melbourne newspaper, Djokovic was asked to provide documents to prove the reason for applying for the exemption.
“A federal government source familiar with the episode said there were question marks over whether Djokovic had sufficient documentation to substantiate the reason for his exemption,” Sakkal wrote. “This evidence is required to be presented at the border by unvaccinated persons. It is not clear whether a case of COVID-19 in the past six months – is suspected to be the reason justifying the exemption. of the player – is it sufficient to warrant entry into Australia in accordance with federal guidelines.”
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison also asked Djokovic to provide evidence.
Morrison said on Wednesday at a news conference: “Any individual wishing to enter Australia must comply with our border requirements.
“If he is not vaccinated, he must provide acceptable proof that he cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. …If that evidence is not sufficient, then he will not be vaccinated. treat anyone else differently and he’ll be on the next flight Home.”
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews clarified on Wednesday that the final decision will be up to the Australian Border Force.
“While the Victorian and Tennis Australia governments may allow an unvaccinated player to compete at the Australian Open, the Commonwealth government will enforce our requirements at the Australian Open,” said Andrews. Australian border. “If an individual arrives unvaccinated, they must provide acceptable evidence that they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons in order to be able to access travel in the same way as non-vaccinated travelers.” fully vaccinated.”
Djokovic spoke with Border Force officials at Melbourne airport for several hours when the decision was made.
Victorian Sports Minister Jaala Pulford said Border Force officials had been in contact with the Victorian government before Djokovic’s flight arrived to ask if that would help fund Djokovic’s visa application. . She said it declined.
We have always been clear on two points: visa approval is a matter for the Federal Government and medical exemptions are a matter for doctors.
2/2
– Jaala Pulford MP (@JaalaPulford) January 5, 2022
Is anyone from Djokovic’s hometown of Serbia participating?
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic spoke on the phone with Djokovic while he was at the airport and vowed to do whatever the country could to help. Vucic posted about their conversation on Instagram after that.
“I told our Novak that [all of] Serbia is with him, and our authorities are taking every measure to stop the harassment of the world’s best tennis player,” Vucic said in a translation.
“In accordance with all the rules of international public law, Serbia will fight for Novak [Djokovic], for justice and truth. “
According to reports, Daniel Emery, Australia’s ambassador to Serbia, was called in to help contact Serbian government officials in Belgrade. Officials from the Serbian embassy in Canberra also stepped in.
Isn’t Djokovic called the “King of Melbourne” and loved by the Australian audience? Why is everyone so crazy he will play?
More than 90% of Australia’s adult population is fully vaccinated and people have experienced severe travel restrictions over the past two years as the country tries to contain the virus. As a result, many people feel uneasy about the possibility of special treatment for a celebrity when many people in the country are still unable to travel internationally, or even in some cases, within the country.
The reaction to Djokovic’s waiver announcement was immediate and largely negative. In addition to the prime minister, a number of local politicians also expressed displeasure.
That is so embarrasing!
We’ve had 6 lockdowns – schools and small businesses closed, funerals and weddings not going, families separated for months straight and now a tennis star is exempt.
A hit for everyone in the Victorian era.#springst #AusOpen
– David Southwick MP (@SouthwickMP) January 4, 2022
How did other players react to this news?
Many felt the same way about the Australian public when the waiver was initially revealed.
“I thought if I didn’t vaccinate I wouldn’t be exempt,” former world No. 1 doubles player Jamie Murray told reporters at this week’s ATP Cup. “You know, but it’s good for him because it’s clear to go to Australia and play.”
Other players were more sympathetic to Djokovic.
“I do not understand why [Djokovic] is getting a lot of hate for his vaccination exemption,” American doubles tennis player Nicole Melichar said in a tweet before Djokovic’s visa was denied. “He followed the rules, and the government could have said no but they didn’t.”
Two-time Australian Open quarter-finalist Tennys Sandgren, who did not compete in this year’s event due to vaccine requirements, has repeatedly expressed displeasure with the Australian government over its treatment of Djokovic. .
Just to be clear here
2 separate medical boards approved his immunity
And politicians are stopping it
Australia doesn’t deserve a great war https://t.co/3B6lt4u9Mq
– Tennys Sandgren (@TennysSandgren) January 5, 2022
What does this mean for the tournament?
Quite a bit! Djokovic has won more singles titles at the Australian Open than any other player in the Open Era, and is looking for his 10th title in Melbourne, as well as a record-breaking 21st major title. Having narrowly and miserably lost in the elusive “Slam Calendar” at the US Open in September, Djokovic is certainly looking forward to returning to his favorite Slam.
Djokovic, the three-time defending champion, is a strong contender to win the title, and his absence will certainly open up opportunities for other players. Because Daniil Medvedev, the world No. 2 beat Djokovic in New York, this will be the opportunity to win another major title on hard courts, his favorite surface. For other young players, such as number 3 Alexander Zverev or number 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas, it might just be a golden opportunity for a first slam win.
Also, 20 times grand champion Rafael Nadal will play in his first professional tournament since the French Open (where he fell – you guessed it – Djokovic in the semi-finals) after being sidelined with injury. He will now be the only member of the “Big Three” in the draw and get his own chance to break the coveted grand slam record.
Do any other tournaments or host countries have vaccine requirements? Will this become an issue throughout the season?
If there’s one thing we know for sure, it’s that protocols and regulations are constantly changing as viruses continue to mutate and new variants emerge. However, at the time of this writing, there is no word on any other tournament or host country requiring players to be vaccinated. Djokovic has previously stated he won’t be competing in many events at this stage of his career, so we probably won’t see him compete again until Dubai at the end of February, or for “Sunshine” Double” in March at Indian Wells and Miami.
